Dante Exum .. Best case scenario

[Flc]

For those without In$ider:

For the player as is now (without consideration of potential), Thorpe has Exum as his second rookie point guard (behind Payton):

Exum is a great example of how a player can impact his team's win total even when his advanced stats don't measure up. Once Exum was inserted into the Jazz's starting lineup, they became a dangerous team that played the best overall defense in the league.

Exum's passing game and overall focus on moving the ball to his scorers also helped the team's offense. He shot the ball decently as a starter, too, and gave us a glimpse of how great he can be in the coming years.

For future projections, Thorpe rates Exum as the top point guard and a future All Star, ahead of Smart (starter but not All Star), Payton (starter but not All Star), Clarkson (rotation player), LaVine (6th man).

It's a bit ironic that the Jazz started playing better once Exum entered the starting lineup, because in some ways they're playing 4-on-5 when he's on the court. Exum really has little idea how to play on offense right now.

The good news is he appears eager to learn how to be a point guard. He is doing well as a ball-mover, and he doesn't force the issue on offense. The fact that he's rarely in a rush is a sign that he's trying to figure out this complex game. And there is value in having a point guard run the team's offense, especially when he can't score efficiently on his own.

Exum is showing incredible potential on D, too, with his length and eagerness to defend. So, putting it all together, it's easy to see why the Jazz drafted him and then inserted him into the starting unit.

Next season, he should be a vastly improved player because the shots he's creating and missing now will be ones he makes far more often. His length and size will be of great help to him, and the game will continue to slow down for him. If you look past the missed shots and confusing decisions at times, you'll see his star potential.

Best bet: All-Star

 

[VINYLONE]

Best case: This thread gets closed, and we all move on with our lives only to start very similar threads with annoying regularity.

P.S. Don't put a "best case" ceiling on the kid. He's only 16, he don't have a rep yet.

Damn. This post was straight as ****.

 

[latin jazz]

Our Grantland ambassador Lowe also likes him:

Exum didn’t really do anything on offense as a rookie. He was just kind of there, standing around, shooting the occasional spot-up 3. He’s still just 19, after all.

But he’s long for a point guard, and he showed glimpses of how he might use that wingspan to swipe pocket passes on the pick-and-roll:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THs9l_Ueyrw

That’s not a simple thing. If Exum overplays the pass, the opposing point guard has an easy driving lane, and the Jazz are toast. If he sticks close to his man, that passing lane is wide open. I can’t wait to see Exum in Year 2. The Jazz remain hopeful about him despite a discouraging rookie season.

 

[VINYLONE]

What year did Earl Boykins retire?

 

[jazzman22]

I like a Tony Parker comparison, he's not necessarily athletic and not a great shooter (yet), but I think he'll become more crafty in the paint... Tony Parker is a future hall of famer but there are some similarities, he will also be a better defensive player then Tony (he may already be)

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

nah I'm thinking like current Shaun. That's his basement. Good defensive PG with decent playmaking skills, will make a good backup on a playoff team.

Pre-injury Shaun is moreso my expectation. Or my hope.

Isn't his basement what he just did this past year?

 

[Douchebag K]

Isn't his basement what he just did this past year?

Stop opposition point guards killing the defense and help his team play better despite all his painful shortcomings ?

Sometimes you really sound like a cranky bitter old grandmother.

 

[Lakers_Slapper]

That is not best case. He is already a good defender and he is shooting the three at a decent clip right now around 35 percent for the last 2 months. So he is already a decent three and solid D player.

I think his best case is higher than what he is at the end of his 19 year old rookie season.

Are you saying that he has not peaked yet at the very old, arthritic age of 19? Your insane. Its clear to all Jazz fanz that this guy is clearly done and washed up. Not only should we not have drafted him, we should have not believed in him since day one. He has had one entire year at 18-19 years old to prove himself. Is that not enough time?? My lord, how much time do you need??? Here is Utah, you have a good 19 and 1/2 days to figure things out. Need more time than that??? Good grief. (sarcastic, please recognize)

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

Are you saying that he has not peaked yet at the very old, arthritic age of 19? Your insane. Its clear to all Jazz fanz that this guy is clearly done and washed up. Not only should we not have drafted him, we should have not believed in him since day one. He has had one entire year at 18-19 years old to prove himself. Is that not enough time?? My lord, how much time do you need??? Here is Utah, you have a good 19 and 1/2 days to figure things out. Need more time than that??? Good grief. (sarcastic, please recognize)

Are you drunk this morning?

 

[Doc Cherno]

Everyone seems to forget that he is only 12 years old! Most kids his age don't have the range to make free throws without taking underhand granny shots. He'll be fine with a summer of conditioning, specific training regimens from Quin, and a 3 octave lowering of his voice.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Stop opposition point guards killing the defense and help his team play better despite all his painful shortcomings ?

Sometimes you really sound like a cranky bitter old grandmother.

What?

I'm just saying a player's basement is usually their worst case scenario. I was just saying that worst case scenario is that he doesn't improve at all, so this past year would be his basement. There is no need to speculate on a basement when we just saw it.

Why so defensive?

 

[b_line]

The question we should be asking is if we need another, better player than best case exum. If exum proves to be as good as Hayward and favirs, then are we alright with the talent we have?

That would be four borderline all stars when you put Rudy in that mix. Are we OK if none of them end up being superstars on offense?

 

[fishonjazz]

That would be four borderline all stars when you put Rudy in that mix. Are we OK if none of them end up being superstars on offense?

I think so, but if we can use any of those core guys to get a real superstar then let's hope we do

 

[The Fresh Prince]

He really needs to refine that shot.

 

[Bhodie]

Judging by the immediate reply Lakers, then no, the sarcasm was not recognized.
How is this 8 year old kid going to improve over the next 3 years? Bust!

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

He really needs to refine that shot.

He really needs how to take/make layups.

 

[stitches]

He really needs how to take/make layups.

To me it looked like he was scared around the rim, like he was changing his shots and constantly trying to avoid non-existent defenders at the rim. But yah, his finishing around the rim in half-court situations wasn't very good.