NBA Draft Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers think Dante Exum can play with Kyrie Irving
Once former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot, it looked like the Cavaliers would pick between Embiid’s former Kansas teammate, Andrew Wiggins and former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker.
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Although that is probably true, they are also interested in Australian point guard Dante Exum. That interest has raised some eyebrows because the Cavaliers have All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, but according to Bill Ingram of Basketball Insiders, the Cavaliers believe Exum can play with Irving.
"JimInCyberSpaceBill, I don’t get why all the experts think Exum will be a better PG than Smart? You live in Dallas, you’ve probably seen Smart’s motor first hand in High School?Exum is sort of an unknown.You know how Smart approaches practice…not like AI. He’s a BEAST in practice, and it carries over. He has his shooting flaws, but he’s a linebacker playing PG on the D end.Most pundit’s have him going to the Lakers…I hope that happens, I’m sure it would spark Kobe at the end of his career…”here’s someone that has the same fire I do”?I’d take Smart over Exum all day long. Bill IngramI think the intrigue with Exum is not at point, but at shooting guard.That’s certainly what the Cavs are thinking as they consider taking him #1 to play next to Irving."
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.