NBA Draft Rumors: Dante Exum ‘best case scenario’ for Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic may be impacted as much as anyone by the injury to former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid.

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Now that Embiid almost certainly be the top-overall pick, the Cleveland Cavaliers will likely take either former Kansas Jayhawks’ forward Andrew Wiggins or former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker, with the Milwaukee Bucks taking the second-overall selection. The Philadelphia 76ers would then likely take Australian point guard Dante Exum, leaving the Magic to take either former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart or former Indiana Hoosiers’ big man Noah Vonleh.

According to Joel Brigham, getting Exum is the best-case scenario for the Magic.

"Best-case scenario, I think, is getting Exum at 4 (6’6″ point guards are something special, and people love everything this kid stands for), then having Dario Saric slip to #12. I like Adriean Payne there, too, maybe Nik Stauskas. They’ll get a couple of players, both of which should get into the rotation pretty quickly. To me though, Exum is the best they can do, and even now, with Embiid potentially hurt, Exum could be gone by #3, too. Embiid could be a good get at #4, but if he’s hurt? Then you look at Smart, I think. A lot can happen… it’s making my head spin!"

Exum measured in at 6’6 and 196 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’9.5 at the NBA’s Scouting Combine. Exum is ranked by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express as the fifth-best prospect in the draft and is currently projected to be selected with the sixth-overall pick in the draft by the Boston Celtics.