Will Dante Exum Make the Leap In Year 3?

[Tak]

I think Exum is a bust.

If he was skilled, he would be awesome given his physical assets. Alas, he is not skilled, and has not shown a significant amount of progress over the last 4 years (ACL tear aside, how come he still has such a bad handle!?).

Not going to be a popular opinion, but I think his problems are mental and I doubt he ever gets to be an average PG in the league. If he sticks in the NBA it will be as a backup SG.

Someone please make me a believer. Who would be a comparable player (long, fast, timid, low skill level) that sucked after 4 years and eventually became a player that helps you win?

Last season was Exum's 3rd. not 4th. I still consider him a project, not much of an outstanding project, but a project nonetheless.

 

[FalseFlagg K]

I think Exum is a bust.

If he was skilled, he would be awesome given his physical assets. Alas, he is not skilled, and has not shown a significant amount of progress over the last 4 years (ACL tear aside, how come he still has such a bad handle!?).

Not going to be a popular opinion, but I think his problems are mental and I doubt he ever gets to be an average PG in the league. If he sticks in the NBA it will be as a backup SG.

Someone please make me a believer. Who would be a comparable player (long, fast, timid, low skill level) that sucked after 4 years and eventually became a player that helps you win?

I don't think you are very up to date with your assessments

 

[checkbookdoc]

Last season was Exum's 3rd. not 4th.

Oops.

 

[checkbookdoc]

I don't think you are very up to date with your assessments

which part? Is he no longer physically gifted or do you think he has progressed a lot? In my opinion Dante has gone from way below average guard skills, to not as far below average. This is not super encouraging. For heaven's sake, Shelvin Mack was an obviously better player than Dante last year!

So who is a good comp for Dante that makes you think he will be even a below average starter some day?

 

[FalseFlagg K]

which part? Is he no longer physically gifted or do you think he has progressed a lot? In my opinion Dante has gone from way below average guard skills, to not as far below average. This is not super encouraging. For heaven's sake, Shelvin Mack was an obviously better player than Dante last year!

So who is a good comp for Dante that makes you think he will be even a below average starter some day?

I don't think the timid thing is that accurate anymore, he didn't shy away from contact last year. His FG% was up from what 34-35% to 41 i think ? and his shot distribution was noticably better, more either at the rim or 3's.

He doesn't have a good comp, he's still such a mystery because of his real lack of just time playing basketball games the last 5 years. I think last year his real struggles were defensively which i'm expecting to be much better this year with his feet under him. Hopefully now the knee is truly behind him he'll start to learn more, but i think he'll make a moderate improvement this year and then a big leap next.

Anyone who has elite measurables and one real super elite skill as in his first step or two and can figure that out has a place. I'm looking forward to seeing what Quin does with him this year now that he's not worried about winning every single second of every game to please the great Betrayward. Really hope he lets Mitchell and Exum have a little rope to play with.

 

[checkbookdoc]

I think last year his real struggles were defensively which i'm expecting to be much better this year with his feet under him. Hopefully now the knee is truly behind him he'll start to learn more, but i think he'll make a moderate improvement this year and then a big leap next.

I hope you are right. There is no denying his length and speed and my favorite part of the game is watching players develop.

 

[FalseFlagg K]

I hope you are right. There is no denying his length and speed and my favorite part of the game is watching players develop.

that's the thing, he was so far behind in terms of playing experience and development to start with and then with the ACL and the team's circumstances last year we still don't really know. I would hope that this year will at least give us an insight into his future, i still think he could be anywhere from really average to all star with time.

 

[Cappy_Smurf]

Oops.

And he has only played 2 years, so he's actually just starting his 3rd year. And yes, he definitely showed improvement from his rookie season, despite coming back from a very serious injury that some players never fully recover from.

Just the fact that you though he's played 4 years is very telling. Anyone calling him a bust is either very misinformed or had unrealistic expectations in the first place.

 

[cctrackstar]

he's alec burks 2.0. he has tons of talent, but doesn't have the 'it' factor that you need for a dominating point guard. that doesn't mean that he will never start, and it doesn't even mean that he doesn't have good value, but that value is as a change of pace guard to keep the team afloat, not as a captain type leader on the court. his 'presence' isn't where it needs to be to lead, and our point needs to lead. Also, because his and rubio's age aren't that different, only five years, when will dante ever inherit the position? by the time rubio retires (hopefully with us), dante will likely be near the end of his prime. and no, let's not be the team that trades rubio. let's hope that he realizes his full potential here and leaves his mark on the team for years to come.

 

[Jack Strop]

that's the thing, he was so far behind in terms of playing experience and development to start with and then with the ACL and the team's circumstances last year we still don't really know. I would hope that this year will at least give us an insight into his future, i still think he could be anywhere from really average to all star with time.

I think the issue with Dante - and Rodney - is that you can't keep and pay everybody. Lindsey is pretty high on Mitchell. And the Jazz traded for a PG who is already at the level we all hoped Dante could eventually reach. So what do you do with Exum and Hood if the starters at the 1/2 are going to be Rubio and Mitchell (if not this year for Donovan, then next)? Certainly, one of them could be a sixth man if willing to come off the bench. Or Jazz could see if Hood could play the 3. I think that's doubtful defensively.

I see Utah pursuing a trade for a bigger starting SF and moving Ingles into a backup role. Who that is, I don't know. Could also look for a solution at PF if Lindsey doesn't think Favors will be healthy or would be too expensive to re-sign. TBH, the trade that makes the most sense is Favors and Exum for Love (there would have to be some other players involved to make salaries match). Cleveland needs a PG. Even when IT returns, I don't see them keeping him IF Lebron leaves.

 

[FalseFlagg K]

I think the issue with Dante - and Rodney - is that you can't keep and pay everybody. Lindsey is pretty high on Mitchell. And the Jazz traded for a PG who is already at the level we all hoped Dante could eventually reach. So what do you do with Exum and Hood if the starters at the 1/2 are going to be Rubio and Mitchell (if not this year for Donovan, then next)? Certainly, one of them could be a sixth man if willing to come off the bench. Or Jazz could see if Hood could play the 3. I think that's doubtful defensively.

yeah i think one of Exum Hood and Mitchell won't be around long term.

 

[Jack Strop]

yeah i think one of Exum Hood and Mitchell won't be around long term.

The other wild card here is Burks. He's signed for two seasons and could slot in as a backup to Mitchell if the Jazz trade Hood. I like the Jazz team and don't want to see anyone leave or get traded. But teams make trades and players decide to move on. Jazz have been pretty stable. Other franchises view players as commodities and move parts around to find best fits. Look at GS. Lot of trades and acquisitions to get that team to where it's at now.

With Hood and Exum, maybe this is case where Lindsey has knowledge that they don't want to stay (or won't for less than a boatload of money). It's not exactly a Hayward situation since both are restricted, but better to get something now for both of them than match huge offers.