NBA Draft Rumors: Orlando Magic won’t pass on Dante Exum, Marcus Smart
Most pundits believe the Orlando Magic will be selecting either Australian point guard Dante Exum or former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart.
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Of course, there also many who believe the Magic, who hold the fourth-overall pick, will take whichever prospect remains between Exum, former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid, his former Kansas teammate, forward Andrew Wiggins and former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker.
However, Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders does not believe the Magic will pass on either Exum or Smart if they are available.
"I don’t think so, because from what I’ve heard they like Dante Exum and Marcus Smart too much to pass on them, especially with virtually no chance of them falling to the 12th pick. They may be able to get Elfrid Payton or Tyler Ennis at that spot, but I’d rather have Exum or Smart."
Exum was in Orlando for a workout on Tuesday. He 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.
Smart is ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the draft by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express. He averaged 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game last season and shot 42.2% from the field, 29.9% from beyond the arc and 72.8% from the charity stripe. Smart measured in at 6’3.25 and 227 lbs. with a wingspan of 6’9.25.