ESPN Ranks Smart and the Other Sophs

[LarBrd33]

Smart is the best defensive guard at his experience level I have seen.... maybe ever.  Right up with the very best.

Exum at 4th.... c'mon.

Might as well have Embiid #2 if you have Exum 4th.  Lol.    I still think Embiid will play eventually. 

[Evantime34]

This is an interesting list. Noel seems too low. Exum is too high. I think Capela is too high.

I know that it is important to evaluate prospects in terms of trade value, but a subjective list like this really drives home that you don't truly know on a prospect until the end of their rookie contract at a minimum.

[hwangjini_1]

This is an interesting list. Noel seems too low. Exum is too high. I think Capela is too high.

I know that it is important to evaluate prospects in terms of trade value, but a subjective list like this really drives home that you don't truly know on a prospect until the end of their rookie contract at a minimum.

good point. this thread, or one like it, would be fun to have two years from now. by then, we will have a lot more info to base our opinions on.

[Celtics18]

This is an interesting list. Noel seems too low. Exum is too high. I think Capela is too high.

I know that it is important to evaluate prospects in terms of trade value, but a subjective list like this really drives home that you don't truly know on a prospect until the end of their rookie contract at a minimum.

[/b]

TP for that.  If "experts" like Pelton and Ford can't agree, why in the world should we?

[nickagneta]

I see Chad Ford is still trying to push Exum as a player. He was the most vocal pundit in support of Exum's abilities amongst draftniks. He just can't let go that he was just that wrong.

[Sketch5]

How is Exum ranked 4th he hasn't even had a sophomore season?

Yeah. Didn't Smart eat him up during Summer League? Exum only played well when Smart was on the bench and got going.

I think Smart is better than we've seen. Just needs to stay healthy and aggressive. I've been liking the 15 foot floater he's been trying to add to his game, it should open things up for him.

[Boris Badenov]

I see Chad Ford is still trying to push Exum as a player. He was the most vocal pundit in support of Exum's abilities amongst draftniks. He just can't let go that he was just that wrong.

He doesn't need to let it go. He can just fix the list later.

[Who]

I have Noel as clear #2 behind Wiggins.

Then it is a bit of a cluster behind those two. Smart, Nurkic, J.Parker, Exum, E.Payton, A.Gordon, J.Randle. I would be happy with Smart being anywhere from #3 to #9. Very little separation in this group (potential wise). Performance wise - Smart, Nurkic and E.Payton are top three players here.

Fourth tier. Capela, Mirotic. TJ Warren. All starter caliber talents.

Then J.Clarkson and Z.LaVine. Borderline starters. High caliber bench players.

[jpotter33]

Lists based on future "potential" are so subjective and anecdotal in nature  that I don't really even know if we can take anything away from them, even when made by so-called experts.

[droopdog7]

I see Chad Ford is still trying to push Exum as a player. He was the most vocal pundit in support of Exum's abilities amongst draftniks. He just can't let go that he was just that wrong.

So too early to determine that smart will be a terrible offensive player yet ford is wrong in exam already?

I would not out exam and #4 but what little I have seen is impressive.  He certainly has more potential than smart offensively.  We'll see how health treats both of them.

[Celtics18]

I see Chad Ford is still trying to push Exum as a player. He was the most vocal pundit in support of Exum's abilities amongst draftniks. He just can't let go that he was just that wrong.

So too early to determine that smart will be a terrible offensive player yet ford is wrong in exam already?

I would not out exam and #4 but what little I have seen is impressive.  He certainly has more potential than smart offensively.  We'll see how health treats both of them.

Not sure how you can claim Exum has more offensive potential than Marcus?  It certainly can't be based on their respective performances as NBA rookies.  I guess you are still watching Exum's Australian high school videos.

[Who]

I see Chad Ford is still trying to push Exum as a player. He was the most vocal pundit in support of Exum's abilities amongst draftniks. He just can't let go that he was just that wrong.

So too early to determine that smart will be a terrible offensive player yet ford is wrong in exam already?

I would not out exam and #4 but what little I have seen is impressive.  He certainly has more potential than smart offensively.  We'll see how health treats both of them.

Not sure how you can claim Exum has more offensive potential than Marcus?  It certainly can't be based on their respective performances as NBA rookies.  I guess you are still watching Exum's Australian high school videos.

More explosive quickness. Quicker first step. Can beat his defender one-on-one off the dribble and drive into the paint better than Smart can.

My main concern with Exum is his mentality. He is too passive. Not assertive / aggressive enough. Doesn't make enough of his talent. But in terms of athleticism + skill level, I think Exum surpasses Smart. The question in my mind is whether he can grow to be more assertive on the court.

[Celtics18]

I see Chad Ford is still trying to push Exum as a player. He was the most vocal pundit in support of Exum's abilities amongst draftniks. He just can't let go that he was just that wrong.

So too early to determine that smart will be a terrible offensive player yet ford is wrong in exam already?

I would not out exam and #4 but what little I have seen is impressive.  He certainly has more potential than smart offensively.  We'll see how health treats both of them.

Not sure how you can claim Exum has more offensive potential than Marcus?  It certainly can't be based on their respective performances as NBA rookies.  I guess you are still watching Exum's Australian high school videos.

More explosive quickness. Quicker first step. Can beat his defender one-on-one off the dribble and drive into the paint better than Smart can.

My main concern with Exum is his mentality. He is too passive. Not assertive / aggressive enough. Doesn't make enough of his talent. But in terms of athleticism + skill level, I think Exum surpasses Smart. The question in my mind is whether he can grow to be more assertive on the court.

I never really saw that "explosiveness" that everyone was raving about with Exum.

[Ilikesports17]

I see Chad Ford is still trying to push Exum as a player. He was the most vocal pundit in support of Exum's abilities amongst draftniks. He just can't let go that he was just that wrong.

So too early to determine that smart will be a terrible offensive player yet ford is wrong in exam already?

I would not out exam and #4 but what little I have seen is impressive.  He certainly has more potential than smart offensively.  We'll see how health treats both of them.

Not sure how you can claim Exum has more offensive potential than Marcus?  It certainly can't be based on their respective performances as NBA rookies.  I guess you are still watching Exum's Australian high school videos.

More explosive quickness. Quicker first step. Can beat his defender one-on-one off the dribble and drive into the paint better than Smart can.

My main concern with Exum is his mentality. He is too passive. Not assertive / aggressive enough. Doesn't make enough of his talent. But in terms of athleticism + skill level, I think Exum surpasses Smart. The question in my mind is whether he can grow to be more assertive on the court.

I never really saw that "explosiveness" that everyone was raving about with Exum.

Nor did I. He is definitely quicker and smoother on the move than Marcus but I never saw the too much explosiveness.

[Who]

I see Chad Ford is still trying to push Exum as a player. He was the most vocal pundit in support of Exum's abilities amongst draftniks. He just can't let go that he was just that wrong.

So too early to determine that smart will be a terrible offensive player yet ford is wrong in exam already?

I would not out exam and #4 but what little I have seen is impressive.  He certainly has more potential than smart offensively.  We'll see how health treats both of them.

Not sure how you can claim Exum has more offensive potential than Marcus?  It certainly can't be based on their respective performances as NBA rookies.  I guess you are still watching Exum's Australian high school videos.

More explosive quickness. Quicker first step. Can beat his defender one-on-one off the dribble and drive into the paint better than Smart can.

My main concern with Exum is his mentality. He is too passive. Not assertive / aggressive enough. Doesn't make enough of his talent. But in terms of athleticism + skill level, I think Exum surpasses Smart. The question in my mind is whether he can grow to be more assertive on the court.

I never really saw that "explosiveness" that everyone was raving about with Exum.

Nor did I. He is definitely quicker and smoother on the move than Marcus but I never saw the too much explosiveness.

I think Exum's explosive quickness is well above average for a two-guard.

But I don't think much of him as a PG. In terms of explosiveness. Or ability to run a team.

I think Exum's future is as a SG.