Dante Exum's transfer grade: some needed versatility for Partizan / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

After spending his first half-season in Europe with Barcelona, Australian guard Dante Exum will now have the opportunity to work with one of the living legends of European basketball Zeljko Obradovic.

Dante Exum

MIN:16.97PTS:6.28 (63.33%)REB:2.48As:1.64ST:0.52BL:0.28TO:0.96GM:25ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

His move to Partizan Belgrade confirms the ambition of the Serbian powerhouse to immediately become a major force in the EuroLeague. The Australian guard quickly adapted to European basketball, and after his time in Barcelona, he now looks ready for a new adventure.

On this occasion, BasketNews evaluates by giving a grade from A (being the best) to F (the worst) Exum's transfer to the Serbian powerhouse and discusses whether it's a good and calculated signing for Partizan Belgrade.

Size and physicality

The first thing to notice is that the addition of Exum will give Partizan much-needed size and physicality in the backcourt. The Australian player is basically a point guard in a small forward's body.

Standing at 6'6'' (1.98 m), Exum is much bigger than players like Avramovic and Yam Madar, the other two main point guard options of the team. But it's not only about the size, as Exum is also solid from a physical standpoint. He has a quick first step and can really explode at the rim with his great athleticism.

The former Utah Jazz player is also an extremely competent defensive player, as he can guard smaller and bigger players without any real issue, and his lateral quickness makes everything easier for him.

The addition of Exum in the backcourt will provide great versatility for the Serbian side. Partizan will be able to count on a player who can give an efficient contribution on both ends of the floor and who has already shown how he can impact a EuroLeague game.

The Three-Point factor

During his experience in the NBA, Exum wasn't exactly known as a threat from the outside. But with his arrival in Europe, he has become a reliable 3-point shooter. With Barcelona, he shot 54% from 3-point in EuroLeague and 44% in the ACB.

Dante Exum

Team:FC BarcelonaPosition:PGAge:27Height:198 cmWeight:86 kgBirth place:Melbourne, AustraliaProfileNewsStatistics

Those numbers are really encouraging because they could turn Exum into a threat in the perimeter. For a guy who's already a great passer, can drive to the basket at ease, and defend basically every player out there, becoming a dangerous weapon from the perimeter would make all the difference in the world for the Australian guard.

Even in fastbreak situations, the 3-point shooting could be really important for Exum, who's known for his ability to grab the rebound and immediately start the fastbreak on his own.

A chip on his shoulder

Since his arrival in Europe, Exum wanted to prove that he could strongly impact the game. After a few weeks of settling in, he quickly turned into a key player for coach Jasikevicius in Barcelona and proved everyone who had doubts about his ability to leave a mark in the EuroLeague wrong.

After several injury issues during his time in the NBA, Exum finally looks free from all the physical problems, showing how important he can be for a EuroLeague side. In the past season, he decided to stay with Barcelona after his first three-month deal expired because he wanted to prove that he could be healthy for a full season.

Now, at Partizan, he'll have to prove that he can be a leader for the Serbian team from the get-going. Coach Obradovic can be a tough test for most players, but he can also elevate a player's quality in so many different ways. Exum will have a chip on his shoulder, a feeling that he already knows pretty well.

Conclusion and transfer's grade

Partizan Belgrade's return to EuroLeague basketball needed to go with some quality additions. Dante Exum is definitely the type of player who can help Partizan recover their status as part of the elite of European basketball.

The Australian guard will bring a lot of versatility to the backcourt of the Serbian side, being able to impact the game on both ends of the court. If his 3-point shooting remains consistent, Partizan will have one of the best two-way guards on the continent on their hands.

The only concern might be Exum's long-term health, but the former Utah Jazz player has already proven in Barcelona that he can be healthy for a season without suffering major injuries.

Overall Grade: A-

Partizan Belgrade

Position Player Status PG Aleksa Avramovic Signed until 2023 PG Yam Madar Signed until 2024 SG Dante Exum (story) Unknown SG Danilo Andjusic (story) Signed until 2024 SG Kevin Punter Signed until 2023 SG Gregor Glas Signed until 2024 SF Uros Trifunovic Signed until 2024 PF Zach LeDay Signed until 2023 C Balsa Koprivica Signed until 2024 C Alen Smailagic Signed until 2024 C Tristan Vukcevic Signed until 2024 Coach Zeljko Obradovic Expired contract Rodions Kurucs (will not return), Mathias Lessort, Dallas Moore (will not return), Rade Zagorac Rumored to leave Nemanja Dangubic (will not return) Interested Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.