NBA Draft Rumors: No scenario where Joel Embiid falls to No. 4

In the 2014 NBA Draft, there is a supposed group of four prospects rated about the rest of the draft – former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid, his college teammate, forward Andrew Wiggins, former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker and Australian point guard Dante Exum.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers don’t seem very likely to select Exum, but it seems like all four players are in play for the teams with the three teams picking after the Cavaliers – the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic.

On Monday, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders was asked about the possibility of Embiid falling to the Magic and if they would select him with the fourth-overall pick.

"Maybe on Embiid. I have said for a while they have the luxury with Nik Vucevic to let Embiid come along slowly, get healthy with a lower amount of pressure. That said if Embiid is there at four, that means he has serious issues with his health and I am not sure the Magic are willing botch the 4th pick unless they have assurances he can be solid and productive and if those assurances were possible he’d be gone before four."

However, Kyler does not see a scenario where that happens.

"I don’t see a scenario in which Embiid gets four. I think Philly takes him at three. They can afford the risk. As for the magic, I think they are zeroing in on Smart, Exum, Vonleh and Parker as options at number four."

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. According to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, Embiid is the second-best prospect in the draft (behind Wiggins).

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