NBA Draft Rumors: How draftable is Joel Embiid?
Now that former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid has had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot, he could slide down draft boards.
More from NBA
- NBA insider: Cavaliers should consider trading Donovan Mitchell
- NBA rumors: Hawks trade candidate, Sixers miss out, Lakers almost lose Reaves
- NBA insider explains real reason the Grizzlies were done with Dillon Brooks
- Knicks projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
- Rockets projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders believes Embiid is too much of a risk to take in the top-10.
"I am not sure how draftable Joel Embiid is for anyone. There is so much unknown and so much risk. Everyone wants to overlook glaring red flags because of his potential as a player, but if he has the kinds of medical issues some say he does, he might not ever see the floor enough to be the player everyone wants him to be.I go back to Greg Oden — if you knew what Greg’s injury history would be would you draft him in the top 10 of this draft. I honestly thing Oden might be a best case. The more teams I talk to about Embiid the more I hear the doubt.I think if you draft him, you have to do it knowing full well he may never amount to anything for you and are you really willing to waste the pick given what might be on the board.I hope he has a full and fruitful NBA career – the kid is a super nice guy, but in this process its risk versus reward and I think there is far too much risk given what else might be there in the top 10."
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.