Set Free: Dante Exum

[KilgoreTrout]

For a worthless player who can't shoot Simmons is hitting 56.7% of his shots, averaging 14.4 ppg, 8.7 assists, and 7.0 rebounds. Not bad for a point guard.

In December he's averaging 16.4 pts, 9.1 assists, and 7.1 rebounds on 62.1% from the field. Of course, the December numbers are skewed by the Cleveland game where he scored 34 on 12-for-14 from the field.

He's averaging 35.5 minutes on a team that's 23-10, so that's not bad for a guy who's "almost worthless". Maybe the Sixers would trade him for Knight or Delly?

Aren’t 90% of his shots from inside of 3 feet?

 

[NMCav]

I'm going to be optimistic on this guy and hope he works out for us. Looking forward to seeing what he has. It's an opportunity for him to get some minutes. Hope he's not another fragile one though.

Bad news for you. He's quite fragile. Maybe our doctors figure out a way to keep him healthy he's going to be hurt and hurt often.

 

[Jake]

Bad news for you. He's quite fragile. Maybe our doctors figure out a way to keep him healthy he's going to be hurt and hurt often.

I won't lose any sleep over it.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

I couldn't help but notice that if you add an "e" to his name it spells "exume". Which is what the Cavs want to do with his career.

 

[Wine and Gold]

Don’t underestimate the value of cap space and 2nd rounders in today’s NBA... especially 2nd rounders where the Cavs are adding them... Deep drafts are coming on the horizon... This trade wasn’t about Dante Exum. He’s just a roll of the dice worth taking is all. Koby is a sharp cookie..

 

[KilgoreTrout]

Don’t underestimate the value of cap space and 2nd rounders in today’s NBA... especially 2nd rounders where the Cavs are adding them... Deep drafts are coming on the horizon... This draft wasn’t about Dante Exum. He’s just a roll of the dice worth taking is all. Koby is a sharp cookie..

W&G thinks Koby is sharp. INTERESTING. That gives me hope. But what about the point made above, that Koby is ready to move on from Love and Sex, 1 year after extending the one and drafting the other?

 

[NMCav]

W&G thinks Koby is sharp. INTERESTING. That gives me hope. But what about the point made above, that Koby is ready to move on from Love and Sex, 1 year after extending the one and drafting the other?

Maybe KLove internally asked for a trade? Maybe he didn't expect it to be this bad. As for Sexton when you bring in a new coaching staff the players don't always mesh with the new coach.

 

[rastamon87]

Maybe KLove internally asked for a trade? Maybe he didn't expect it to be this bad. As for Sexton when you bring in a new coaching staff the players don't always mesh with the new coach.

Don't know if there is any validity about moving on from Collin... If yes, it just reflect on how highly they value Garland... Sexton is a good player, but it is unlikely that it works out in the long run with the Sexton-Garland combo starting, if they believe the same then they'll need to trade one of them to fill the holes in the other positions in the team...

 

[Nathan S]

Yeah I read that about Snyder too from Jazz fans.

I am optimistic from the point of view that while Garland's body language started the year very bad, Beilein and the coaching staff empowered him and he is trending the right way and is finding his spots. It took awhile, but Beilein has figured out where guys are most effective, so in that respect I trust him with Exum.

With what he has gone through, he needs a change of scenery. I just don't think Exum was ever a lottery talent. I am not sure there is much to be excited about at all. He's not a Rondo level passer, but he is worse than Rondo shooting.

Defenders who can't shoot are almost worthless in the NBA right now. Simmons is getting blasted right now and he is 10x the talent Exum is. If his playmaking was really special I might feel differently, but his game seems to be basic pick and roll reads.

IIRC, quickness was supposed to be one of Exum's big things offensively. But that's a tricky thing to judge in a prospect, and his torn ACL may have made him another half-step slower. Without that blow-by ability, he really can't do much to create offense.

Looking on the bright side, he's been a steady ~80% foul shooter the last few years, so maybe the 3-ball will start to fall. If that happens, then sure, he checks a lot of boxes for a roleplayer SG. I'm not holding my breath though.

 

[sailfish]

Don't know if there is any validity about moving on from Collin... If yes, it just reflect on how highly they value Garland... Sexton is a good player, but it is unlikely that it works out in the long run with the Sexton-Garland combo starting, if they believe the same then they'll need to trade one of them to fill the holes in the other positions in the team...

If they’re willing to trade Sexton, it’s because the Cavs view the backcourt of the future as Garland & KPJ, not Garland & Sexton.

I wonder what we could get for Sexton? Personally, I wouldn’t settle for anything less than another lottery pick or comparable young player.

It’s funny to think that a 24 year old Exum would be one of the team’s veterans. Hoping we can catch lightning in a bottle with him. It will likely take some time & patience.

 

[Green Lantern]

Interesting trade, but many of us have spoken about trading Clarkston just to free up minutes/shots for the others.

 

[RedBlackAttack]

Don’t underestimate the value of cap space and 2nd rounders in today’s NBA... especially 2nd rounders where the Cavs are adding them... Deep drafts are coming on the horizon... This draft wasn’t about Dante Exum. He’s just a roll of the dice worth taking is all. Koby is a sharp cookie..

I've always been kind of curious how Koby and our front office is thought of among league executives. Only GMs that are really good for a really long period (RC Buford) or innovative (Daryl Morey) or really, really bad (Vlade Divac) do you ever really hear about in terms of their job performance and where they rank. With his smarts, I have to think Koby is pretty well respected.

 

[inliner311]

If they’re willing to trade Sexton, it’s because the Cavs view the backcourt of the future as Garland & KPJ, not Garland & Sexton.

I wonder what we could get for Sexton? Personally, I wouldn’t settle for anything less than another lottery pick or comparable young player.

It’s funny to think that a 24 year old Exum would be one of the team’s veterans. Hoping we can catch lightning in a bottle with him. It will likely take some time & patience.

I don't think they are going to give up on Sexton yet. I actually think bring in Exum creates flexibility in lineups so they can get the best of Sexton, Garland, and KPJ. Those 3 are our top 3 players of the future as the roster is currently constructed. Exum if he can stay healthy and develop even to just be a solid #3 guard, will allow Sexton, Garland, and KPJ to start then rotated into more manageable lineups for the bulk of games.

I don't think Exum has the high ceiling that he was once projected to have but if he can develop to that #3 defensive guard that can help facilitate and gives enough on offense, I think the Cavs will be very happy with him. He then just fits into a 3 guard rotation really well with Sexton and Garland while hopefully being an affordable long term piece. The profile of Exum is a prospect that will always get taken high in a draft because of potential with those attributes but it's also the type of players that will hide the flaws of starting both Sexton and Garland. If Exum works out, Koby doesn't have to use up valuable draft capital to get that type of player.

 

[Green Lantern]

Don’t underestimate the value of cap space and 2nd rounders in today’s NBA... especially 2nd rounders where the Cavs are adding them... Deep drafts are coming on the horizon... This draft wasn’t about Dante Exum. He’s just a roll of the dice worth taking is all. Koby is a sharp cookie..

Macadamia nut?

 

[red.]

Coach John Beilein said Dante Exum will get some run on Friday.
The coach said it will likely be in Jordan Clarkson's spot, but the team won't overdo it on minutes. Kevin Porter Jr. played nine minutes next to Cedi Osman on Monday, so he could be the beneficiary of the Clarkson trade. Exum is only worth a look in deep leagues.