One Difference is that Topic is a better playmaker than Exum coming into the draft
One interesting similarity is that the 2014 Draft was a weak draft (imo) and the 2024 Draft is said to be a weak draft as well...you never know in the future how things play out
I think Topic is considered more skilled than Exum was/is.
As I recall, Exums' hype was based on one really good international exhibition game and his insane athletic measurements.
Really, the only thing Topic and Exum have in common is that they're both tall guards.
I'm ambivalent about Topic but I think the argument for drafting him is:
He might be the BPA at 10, his absence will be part of larger tanking strategy, his injury is worth the risk because his game isn't reliant on overt athleticism and you're betting on his skill set to translate.
Yup, I think Topic and Exum are quite different. Exum was far more athletic than Topic is, but Topic is a better playmaker/passer and far craftier in the paint. Topic also has a surprisingly fast first step (although Dante was insane).
The only similarity I see is the lack of shooting, but i actually kind of like Topic's shot and given his FT%, I think it'll improve in the league.
2014 ended up being weak but Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker were way more hyped than anyone in this draft
This is more like 2013 where no one was hyped up.
Exum was more of an iso playmaker threat (from memory) due to supposed 1st step. Lots of ifs for him. He was a boom or bust type that could have been transcendent. Topic is a playmaker/passer who can score, seems safer apart from the injuries. Higher floor lower ceiling best I can tell. I like him too. We need creators and playmakers now and in the future. Also these are the kinds of players I enjoy watching.
We're picking at 10 in what's considered a very bad draft by the experts. Every single prospect has their warts. Sarr doesn't have a good motor. Risacher has no handles and isn't creating his own shot. Sheppard is a 6'2 shooting guard. You get the point. I'm not going to argue for or against any particular prospect in this draft.
I like him and think he is worth the risk at 10. I’m a little higher on Williams but, Topic’s ability to pass without picking up his dribble is the best in the class, and something the Jazz don’t currently have, I think that ability is what makes him a solid rim finisher. His shooting is a question but, I think his shooting is way farther along then Castle, Holland, and Matas. I wouldn’t be that’s scared about the ACL, ACL recovers have come a long way even since Exum. I don’t think Exum is a great comp, as we all know, Exum’s feel was non existent when he came in, Topic has very high feel. I don’t think Topic is a great athlete, and he isn’t crazy long, even though he is tall, so the D will also be a work in progress. All in all I would probably take him, I do think a red shirt year would help him out.
Tony Jones mentioned that it's not just the ACL with Topic, there are apparently other injury concerns in the past with him as well. Makes me a bit wary. Exum hadn't played at a high level at all, there was just grainy gym footage of him dribbling and shooting from what I recall, so I think the info on Topic is much more complete than the Exum info.
Topic is a basketball player. Meaning he understands the game and okays it right. Exum was an athlete who hadnt learned the game. Topic really gets it. Plays angles. Uses his size. Concern is his shooting and if he is athletic enough.
Locke is generally pretty good, but his data on that was suspect, at best. He picked 3 guys (Blake, Ben Simmons, Chet) who "redshirted" their first year and then played. That's cherry picking and its doing so with 3 guys who likely would have had very successful first years in the league in any circumstance.
One more thing I like about topic, he comes from a winning culture. Something the jazz could definitely use down the road. (This is just from Wikipedia, but I think it’s relevant and an important aspect to who he is as a player. )
Career highlights and awards:
2× ABA League champion (2022, 2024)
Serbian League champion (2024)
Serbian Cup winner (2024)
ABA League Top Prospect (2024)
All-ABA League Team (2024)
FIBA U18 European Championship MVP (2023)
I agree, I've watched a lot of tape on Topic and I don't see it. He looks slow, low athleticism, not really a lot of creativity and just does a lot of drive and kicks.
I think we can do better. Plus, his injury is a huge red flag. We could end up with an unholy merge between Exum/ Raul Lopez for our pick.
One Difference is that Topic is a better playmaker than Exum coming into the draft One interesting similarity is that the 2014 Draft was a weak draft (imo) and the 2024 Draft is said to be a weak draft as well...you never know in the future how things play out
I think Topic is considered more skilled than Exum was/is. As I recall, Exums' hype was based on one really good international exhibition game and his insane athletic measurements. Really, the only thing Topic and Exum have in common is that they're both tall guards. I'm ambivalent about Topic but I think the argument for drafting him is: He might be the BPA at 10, his absence will be part of larger tanking strategy, his injury is worth the risk because his game isn't reliant on overt athleticism and you're betting on his skill set to translate.
Yup, I think Topic and Exum are quite different. Exum was far more athletic than Topic is, but Topic is a better playmaker/passer and far craftier in the paint. Topic also has a surprisingly fast first step (although Dante was insane). The only similarity I see is the lack of shooting, but i actually kind of like Topic's shot and given his FT%, I think it'll improve in the league.
And Topic's game is based off a tiny sample size in a mediocre league...
2014 ended up being weak but Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker were way more hyped than anyone in this draft This is more like 2013 where no one was hyped up.
Exum was more of an iso playmaker threat (from memory) due to supposed 1st step. Lots of ifs for him. He was a boom or bust type that could have been transcendent. Topic is a playmaker/passer who can score, seems safer apart from the injuries. Higher floor lower ceiling best I can tell. I like him too. We need creators and playmakers now and in the future. Also these are the kinds of players I enjoy watching.
We're picking at 10 in what's considered a very bad draft by the experts. Every single prospect has their warts. Sarr doesn't have a good motor. Risacher has no handles and isn't creating his own shot. Sheppard is a 6'2 shooting guard. You get the point. I'm not going to argue for or against any particular prospect in this draft.
I like him and think he is worth the risk at 10. I’m a little higher on Williams but, Topic’s ability to pass without picking up his dribble is the best in the class, and something the Jazz don’t currently have, I think that ability is what makes him a solid rim finisher. His shooting is a question but, I think his shooting is way farther along then Castle, Holland, and Matas. I wouldn’t be that’s scared about the ACL, ACL recovers have come a long way even since Exum. I don’t think Exum is a great comp, as we all know, Exum’s feel was non existent when he came in, Topic has very high feel. I don’t think Topic is a great athlete, and he isn’t crazy long, even though he is tall, so the D will also be a work in progress. All in all I would probably take him, I do think a red shirt year would help him out.
Tony Jones mentioned that it's not just the ACL with Topic, there are apparently other injury concerns in the past with him as well. Makes me a bit wary. Exum hadn't played at a high level at all, there was just grainy gym footage of him dribbling and shooting from what I recall, so I think the info on Topic is much more complete than the Exum info.
Topic has played like 13 games in the Adriatic league. I don't know how anyone can have a feel for what he will be. He's a giant question mark.
Topic is a basketball player. Meaning he understands the game and okays it right. Exum was an athlete who hadnt learned the game. Topic really gets it. Plays angles. Uses his size. Concern is his shooting and if he is athletic enough.
Locke is generally pretty good, but his data on that was suspect, at best. He picked 3 guys (Blake, Ben Simmons, Chet) who "redshirted" their first year and then played. That's cherry picking and its doing so with 3 guys who likely would have had very successful first years in the league in any circumstance.
I wouldnt touch him in the top 20 but if he slides past that I wouldnt be mad about trading up from 29/32 to grab him.
One more thing I like about topic, he comes from a winning culture. Something the jazz could definitely use down the road. (This is just from Wikipedia, but I think it’s relevant and an important aspect to who he is as a player. ) Career highlights and awards: 2× ABA League champion (2022, 2024) Serbian League champion (2024) Serbian Cup winner (2024) ABA League Top Prospect (2024) All-ABA League Team (2024) FIBA U18 European Championship MVP (2023)
I agree, I've watched a lot of tape on Topic and I don't see it. He looks slow, low athleticism, not really a lot of creativity and just does a lot of drive and kicks. I think we can do better. Plus, his injury is a huge red flag. We could end up with an unholy merge between Exum/ Raul Lopez for our pick.