Draftexpress just updated their mock. The C's select...Dante Exum?

[ctrey]

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2014/


That would make me pass out if that happens. However I am hearing Orlando is falling back in love with Smart hard.

[HeadDoctorJ]

Umm, I could live with that

[perks-a-beast]

Draftexpress does an outstanding job with their scouting reports, not so much their mock drafts.

A few issues I have with this update...

1. No way Exum falls to the Celtics. Even if Orlando opts to take Smart, Utah will scoop him up with the 5th.

2. Nik Stauskas is a good player, but has no business being in the top 10 in such a deep draft.

3. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around Kristaps Porzingi's going 15th. Maybe there's something I'm missing, but he seems pretty underwhelming to me.

4. 20 is way too low for TJ Warren

5. 23 is way too low for Kyle Anderson. IF Anderson AND Warren are on the board when we pick, I'd be ecstatic and shocked.

[HeadDoctorJ]

PS- I think PHI would pass out too. Wiggins at 3 and Gordon at 10?

[P stoff]

If Exum is taken by Utah, then we take Vonleh or Gordon...then swing a deal for Alec Burks. If Utah keeps hayward then they will want Exum to play more (thus moving Burks)

Either way, we get a bigger SG...   Levine or Hairston would be great at 17.

[Rondo9]

Draftexpress does an outstanding job with their scouting reports, not so much their mock drafts.

A few issues I have with this update...

1. No way Exum falls to the Celtics. Even if Orlando opts to take Smart, Utah will scoop him up with the 5th.

I'd say there's a chance, considering how enamored Utah is with Vonleh.

[GreenWarrior]

if we land exum. i'd seriously have to reconsider trading for Love. unless we could do both.

[Moranis]

I am never impressed by the mocks on draft express.  They just seem too strange. 

[Rondo9]

if we land exum. i'd seriously have to reconsider trading for Love. unless we could do both.

If Dante Exum is in the way of a Kevin Love trade, then I'm shipping Exum out.

[ManUp]

Cool, but I want vonleh...

[GreenWarrior]

if we land exum. i'd seriously have to reconsider trading for Love. unless we could do both.

If Dante Exum is in the way of a Kevin Love trade, then I'm shipping Exum out.

normally, i'd agree but i'm starting to gush over exum. and I don't normally do that with most of the players we've potentially had a chance at drafting.

[Adelaide Celt]

Draftexpress, stop playing games with my heart.

[merkins]

IF the first four picks fell this way, you'd better believe the Lakers would be very aggressive in trying to swap 5 and 7.  If Utah wants Vonleh he is probably still there at 7.

I dont know what they have to work with via trade assets but we need to be in the position to swap picks with Utah before the Lakers do.

[MBunge]

At this point, Boston should probably stay away from players with high bust-potential like Exum.

Mike

[obnoxiousmime]

I first saw Exum slipping to four in a mock recently on SI.com.

And here it is:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/news/20140604/nba-mock-draft-joel-embiid-andrew-wiggins-dante-exum/

It's possible that Orlando would take Smart over Exum, as they need a PG (Oladipo's future is at the 2) and Smart may be closer to that description than Exum. Also, Exum is still kind of an unknown, at least Smart has a track record.

I also can't see Exum slipping past Utah, in which case losing the coin flip would really hurt. Still, it's not impossible that they simply think Vonleh is the real deal since reports are he's been impressing in workouts. For example, from Chad Ford's "notes" (Insider content):

Indiana's Noah Vonleh continues to make the case that he's the best power forward prospect in the class. He held a workout for NBA execs in Long Island last weekend and wowed many of the people there.

"Vonleh was good," an NBA exec texted me. "Didn't shoot it well, but everything else was very good to ridiculously good."

Another exec was even more complimentary: "Vonleh's got elite physical tools and is very skilled. He should be in the same group with Wiggins, Embiid, Parker and [Dante] Exum."

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2014/story/_/id/11026913/nba-draft-three-weeks-2014-nba-draft-look-latest-notes-top-prospects/refresh/true

Of course, the question then who is hyping Vonleh and why? Could it just be a smokescreen? The fact that he quotes multiple "execs" would suggest it's not just one team spreading misinformation, but you never know. GMs could have picked Vonleh as the guy they're going hype up before the draft in the hope that the guy they really prefer slips. If any exec really loved Vonleh, you have to believe they'd keep their mouth shut over the guy, unless they're guaranteed to be in a position to draft him (that list starts at 4 with Orlando).

Let's say the Celts really do love Aaron Gordon. That quote about Vonleh being just as good as the other top four guys could just be an attempt to dissuade Utah from taking Gordon, or increase the odds Exum might slip to 6.

Isn't draft time so much fun?