Orlando Magic: 4 potential free agency targets in 2018
By Chris Murch
4. Dante Exum
2017-18 Stats: 8.1 PPG, 3.1 APG, 1.9 RPG
Once again, the Orlando Magic need a point guard like Skip Bayless needs a muzzle. Exum fulfills this need and gives the Magic a point guard for the future they can potentially build around.
As the former fifth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Exum hasn’t had quite the career that many thought he would coming out. Of course, as a 19 year-old, 6’6” point guard who weighs under 200 pounds, there is going to be some adjustment time needed. Exum has also been hampered by lingering injuries to his knees and shoulder.
With all of this being said, Exum is still only 22 years old with four (three played) years in the league. While he only played 14 regular season games last season, Exum was a great guard off the bench for a young Utah Jazz team that made a surprise run at the playoffs last year.
He was valued late in the season for his tenacious perimeter defense, length and ability to get to the rim. What Exum doesn’t provide with consistent shooting or scoring, he makes up for with his defensive intensity and length.
Exum works for the Magic because it’s become patently obvious that they are looking for young guys with long arms and who can play defense. Exum still has a lot of time to develop his offensive game and showed good signs in the playoffs that he can indeed score.
In 10 playoff games last year he shot 48.8 percent from the field and played great defense. If the Magic want to go young and build, Exum might be a good, cheap look, although they no longer have the cap space to make a large offer that may give Utah pause in matching for its restricted free agent.