NBA Draft Rumors: Is Dante Exum a risk?

Jun 27, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view as NBA commissioner David Stern (right) , deputy commissioner Adam Silver (left) and former NBA player Hakeem Olajuwon speak on stage after the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

One of the biggest enigmas in the 2014 NBA Draft is Australian point guard Dante Exum.

Almost every pundit agrees that Exum is a top five pick, but at just 18 years old, Exum is raw and inexperienced. He also hasn’t seen the type of competition he will soon see on a nightly basis.

In his latest chat, ESPN’s Chad Ford was asked if Exum was a risk.

“Yes and no,” Ford explained. “The less information you have, the more a risk a player becomes. So in that sense, he’s a risk. Many GMs won’t have ever seen him play live and only on tape. On the other hand, he has incredible talent. Size, length, athleticism, basketball IQ. Can score and pass. How that translates from FIBA Under 19 play and Australian high school basketball to the NBA is a guess. But he seems to have all the tool (though he needs to improve that jumper). I’m not sure any GM has the guts to take him No. 1 — especially with Wiggins and Parker and Embiid on the board. But they might. Lots of talent there.”

Of course, his size (6’6) and talent have some scouts’ mouths watering.

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