NBA Draft Rumors: GM says it would be hard to draft Joel Embiid

For the past month or so, former Kansas star Joel Embiid has emerged as the likely favorite to be selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

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Of course, that was before news leaked suggesting that Embiid had suffered a foot injury and while still undiagnosed, some believe the foot is broken as told by Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski.

That would require surgery and likely rehab, something that NBA teams with the top overall pick aren’t exactly excited about, especially given Embiid’s already spotty injury history.

As you’ll recall, Joel Embiid missed the latter portion of Kansas’ season due to a stress fracture in his back, the second time he suffered such with the first coming during his high school playing days. All of that mixed and matched certainly has NBA front offices, their scouts and doctors on high alert as insider David Aldridge noted when he spoke to a general manager holding a pick in the top ten.

It’s a completely valid fear, though, if Embiid can avoid a broken foot that will likely reduce the concern for a lot of front office members across the NBA. Of course, if it is indeed broken, then obviously it completely shakes up the draft and we don’t have to look very far to see that as we witness such last year with Nerlens Noel who many believed was to be the top pick before suffering a knee injury.

News on Joel Embiid’s injury is expected Friday, but understandably there’s quite a concern about NBA GM’s right now regarding his diagnosis.