NBA Draft Rumors: Dante Exum won’t slip below No. 5 pick?
By Bryan Rose
Although Dante Exum, on behalf of his father, suggested that the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers were the only NBA franchises he’d play for, it appears Exum won’t be getting his wish.
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Seemingly attempting to scare teams away from drafting him, it was the hope of his father that Exum would fall to the No. 6 pick (owned by the Celtics) or the No. 7 selection (owned by the Lakers) but according to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, Exum slipping past the Utah Jazz at the No. 5 pick is unlikely.
“Don’t expect Dante Exum to slip further than the Jazz, who will happily add the smooth guard to its young nucleus. Again, there are some doubts as to whether Exum can be a point guard long term — he certainly believes it and has some of the skills to do it — but the Jazz are set at the point with Trey Burke and will slot Exum between Burke and Gordon Hayward in a talented perimeter group.”
Of course, it’s completely possible that Exum could go higher than the fifth overall pick as he recently worked out for the Milwaukee Bucks, owners of the No. 2 pick, though many believe that was more of a due diligence than the Bucks showing interest in Exum. After all, the Bucks will have the second choice in the Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker sweepstakes assuming they keep their selection.
One problem for the Jazz however will be the team picking directly before them, the Orlando Magic who own the No. 4 pick and are said to be choosing between Exum and Noah Vonleh. It has also been said the Magic have strong interest in Marcus Smart, though as of now it appears he has fallen behind both players.
Regardless, it does not appear as if Exum will slip come the 2014 NBA Draft.