Dante Exum: ‘I want to go to a place that needs me’

Exum is keen to play for a team in desperate need of a point guard, where he can play immediate minutes. The Lakers are having a disappointing season and could receive a high draft pick, and veteran point guard Steve Nash is in the twilight of his career. ''I want to go to a place that needs me, I don't want to go somewhere like the [LA] Clippers who have Chris Paul and be stuck behind him,'' he said. ''I want to go to a team which is going to want and need me, and hopefully get minutes in my first season."

The Australian combo guard prospect, who notably sounds like he sees himself as more of a point guard in these quotes, signed with agent Rob Pelinka last week and declared his intention to be in the 2014 NBA Draft. Pelinka, whose biggest client is Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, plans to have Exum speak with Bryant about making the transition to the NBA. He talked to fellow Aussies Andrew Bogut of the Golden State Warriors and Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs when he was making his decision to forego college and enter the draft.