This report by Sporting News popped up today (February 27th) about Dante Exum, the 4th highest rated prospect by ESPN Insider Chad Ford and 5th by Draft Express, potentially forcing his way to the Lakers during the draft. The 18 year old Australian stand out point guard has been working out and preparing for the draft in LA and just recently signed with Kobe Bryant’s agent, Rob Pelinka (who actually came off the bench at Michigan during the Fab Five era). The report says that some GMs around the league are worried that Exum will force his way to the Lakers, who currently have the 5th worst record, by threatening to sign with a foreign team next year if someone chooses to select him before them. In a recent interview, he eluded to how he would be a good fit with the system and personnel, should the Lakers choose him. This would not be the first time a foreign player has demanded to be picked by a certain club or market. Back in 2007, Chinese phenom Yi Jianlian only invited a number of large market teams to watch his work out, however the plan failed and he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks. Ricky Rubio in 2009 also attempted to force his way to a large-market, California team (Clippers, Warriors and Kings), however he was selected by the Timberwolves instead.
I have two concerns with this story. The first is that it’s no guarantee he will even be on the Laker’s radar because if they have a top 3 selection, I would be inclined to think they would consider Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker over Exum. At the rate they have been losing, it seems possible that they could end up with anywhere from the 10th to 3rd worst record. Since there is a draft lottery system as way of determining draft order in the NBA, it’s very much possible they could end up with the number one pick.
The second concern is that they could end up trading their selection as part of package to get another proven star such as Kevin Love or Russell Westbrook. That possibility seems more unlikely, since the kind of cheap, superior talent that’s available at the top of the draft is one of the most valuable assets in the league, however it’s the Lakers and they want to win and have stars. In the end, they probably wouldn’t do something that miscalculated though.
Nevertheless, and Exum/Kobe pairing could fit great, especially for the Lakers long term. Some see Exum as part of the Russell Westbrook/Derrick Rose mold of point guard. A score-first penetrator with superior athleticism who can take over games. Others are more skeptical and see him as more of an unrealized Jamal Crawford. Fortunately, Jamal Crawford is a pretty satisfactory player to have as a floor since he might be the best pure scorer in the league, when he gets hot. Regardless of what happens, the NBA will be getting another young stud point guard and surprisingly, the Lakers are going to have a foundation to build upon via this unusually high draft pick.
Here’s Draft Express’ Dante Exum scouting video from the preseason:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSadteflk9Y