NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Chicago Bulls
4. Dante Exum
Over the past two seasons, the Bulls have had perhaps the most unstable point guard rotation in the entire NBA. Rajon Rondo, Isaiah Canaan, Jerian Grant, Cameron Payne, Kris Dunn, Ryan Arcidiacono and Kay Felder have all played actual minutes for this organization in that span. That’s… alarming to say the least. After a forgettable rookie season, Kris Dunn bounced back nicely in Chicago. But he’s far from being a sure thing at this juncture. The Bulls need all the help they can get at the one spot, so bringing in capable point guards should be a priority for them this summer.
And so we come to Australian international Dante Exum. Adding an injury-plagued guard with a bricky jumper into this guard rotation might not be the ideal way to bring stability to the backcourt. But the Bulls can afford to test out some low-risk, potentially high reward guys. Despite all the time he’s missed, Exum has shown some flashes of brilliance during his stints of relative health. The Kobe Bryant comparisons we heard in the buildup to the 2014 Draft obviously haven’t aged well, but Exum is still an intriguing player.
When he came into the NBA, Exum’s freakishly long build and his crazy athleticism captivated scouts. Many believed he could develop into an explosive player on both ends of the floor, a legit two-way star. Four years into his career Dante hasn’t met those lofty expectations, but he’s often a terror on the defensive end of the floor. During the playoffs Exum often found himself matched up on James Harden, an almost impossible defensive assignment, and he held up well. He’s great at pressuring the ball and limiting the airspace of offensive players.
Exum’s offense is the more concerning component of his game. He can’t hit from 3-point range and just as significantly, he’s not a willing shooter from deep. On a team with Kris Dunn and numerous ground-bound centers that have minimal shooting range, adding another non-shooter into the mix could be an issue. But many facets of the Australian’s game are valuable and worth exploring. Exum pushes the ball in transition, igniting dynamic fast break chances. In those setting in particular, he can get to the rim and finish at a high rate or create good looks for teammates. As a rookie, Dante almost never attempted shots within the restricted area, which is bizarre given his undeniable athleticism. He’s much more reliable in that area now.
Exum’s game has some holes and his fit wouldn’t be seamless on this Chicago team. But he brings a defensive intensity and a nice transition game that every team would love to have. As a restricted free agent, Utah will have matching rights on any offer that goes Exum’s way. But he seems attainable. Would an offer starting $8 million annually do the trick?