2014 NBA Draft: Predicting Winners and Losers

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Dante Exum (Australia) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number five overall pick to the Utah Jazz in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Winner

Utah Jazz- The Jazz had two selections (5th and 23rd) in the first round. With their fifth pick they selected Australian sensation Dante Exum. The pick might have come as a surprise as the Jazz drafted point guard Trey Burke with their lottery selection last season. Many don’t know what position Exum will play, but now that the Jazz have taken him he will likely rotate with Burke, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Exum plays on the ball on offense while Burke spots up as he is a better shooter.

Regardless of what they do, Exum should be a terrific player as he is a good slasher with excellent size (6’6″), that can make plays for others. With the 23rd pick the Jazz selected Rodney Hood. Hood was seen as a near lock at a lottery selection. Hood has excellent size for a small forward (6’8″) and is a terrific shooter. If Gordon Hayward doesn’t resign with the Jazz, they might have found their replacement.