NBA Draft Rumors: Joel Embiid won't go any earlier than No. 3 overall

Former Kansas Jayhawks’ center looked like he was going to be the number one-overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft just a few weeks ago.

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Now that he has undergone surgery to correct a stress fracture in his right foot, he could slide in Thursday night’s draft.

According to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England, Embiid won’t go any earlier than number three overall.

"Multiple sources have told CSNNE.com that the earliest Embiid could be off the draft board is at No. 3 to Philadelphia.And while the Sixers are putting out feelers about being “very interested” in Embiid, there’s a growing sense that their interest is a smokescreen to acquire more assets (i.e. draft picks) from teams looking to move up and are willing to take on the risks involved in drafting the injury-plagued 7-footer.“Philly’s saying all the right things, about those two forming a Twin Towers kind of frontcourt in the future,” said one league executive, referring to pairing Nerlens Noel with Embiid. “But think about it. Nerlens Noel didn’t play at all this year. And don’t forget about the whole Andrew Bynum fiasco! Do they want to risk going through all that again? I don’t think so. If they draft Embiid, it won’t be to keep him.”"

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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NBA Draft Rumors: Joel Embiid won’t go any earlier than No. 3 overall

By Andrew Melnick | Jun 24, 2014