NBA Draft Rumors: Joel Embiid could fall out of the lottery

Just a few days ago, former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid looked like he was cementing himself as a the top-overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

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Now, after Embiid had surgery to correct a stress fracture in his right foot, he could be fighting to remain a lottery pick.

According to Baxter Holmes of The Boston Globe, some scouts believe Embiid will still go in the top-5 or top-1o but others think he could fall out of the lottery.

"Still, some league sources pointed out that some teams might still draft Embiid in the top 10, even in the top five, because quality big men are simply hard to find.“Someone will take him top 10,” said one league source. “The prognosis for a full recovery would really have to be in question for him not to be taken.”One league source doubted that Embiid would fall out of the top 10. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” the source said.Another league source said that because the draft is especially topheavy, featuring several quality players in the top 10 who are potential All-Star players, it just isn’t worth the risk to draft a young 7-footer who already has multiple injuries in areas that are known to be historically problematic for centers."

Embiid is ranked second among all prospects by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express (behind former Kansas teammate, forward Andrew Wiggins). Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 62.6% from the field, 20.0% from beyond the arc and 68.5% from the free throw line.

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