NBA Rumors: ‘Safe to say’ Joel Embiid won’t go in top-2
Just last week, it looked like former Kansas Jayhawks would be the number-one overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
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However, Embiid had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot on Friday. The injury, coupled with his lingering back problems that kept him out of both the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament, could cause him to slide during the draft on Thursday night.
According to Chuck Myron oh Hoops Rumors, it is “safe to say” Embiid will not be one of the top two picks.
"No, I think it’s safe to say he won’t go in the top two picks. The Sixers at No. 3, maybe, but that’s as high as he goes, barring a real shock. (And we know the Cavs are good at shocking us, but that’d be a doozy.)"
Of course, the Cavaliers could get their hands on Embiid with a different pick. The Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz, who hold the third-overall, fourth-overall and fifth-overall selections in the draft, have all inquired about trading up. The Cavaliers could probably get a package surrounding one of those picks and either 76ers’ forward Thaddeus Young, Magic guard Arron Afflalo and possibly Jazz big man Derrick Favors and select Embiid.
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.