Fansided

NBA Draft Results: Philadelphia 76ers select Joel Embiid No. 3 overall

By Brad Rowland

Mar 1, 2014; Stillwater, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid (21) is defended by Oklahoma State Cowboys forward/center Kamari Murphy (21) and guard Markel Brown (22) during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2014; Stillwater, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid (21) is defended by Oklahoma State Cowboys forward/center Kamari Murphy (21) and guard Markel Brown (22) during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

With the top two selections of Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker off the board to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks, respectively, the Philadelphia 76ers had an incredibly interesting decision with the third overall selection. In a mild surprise, the Sixers have elected to select former Kansas big man Joel Embiid.

Embiid sat atop the great majority of draft boards before diagnosed with a fracture in his foot prior to the draft, and Philadelphia’s decision to grab him seems to be an assertion that they trust his overall talent. The big man is the purest combination of size and skill in this entire draft class, and if Embiid emerges as a relatively healthy commodity, the combination of Joel Embiid and former Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel would be devastating on the defensive end.

Philadelphia chose Embiid over the somewhat similar upside of Australian point guard Dante Exum, but in a vacuum, Joel Embiid has the highest ceiling of any draft pick, and with the Sixers seemingly a few years away, this is a “swing for the fences” move. The Sixers will have a follow-up pick at number ten overall, and it will be exceedingly interesting to see what they do in order to support Embiid and their young star point guard, Michael Carter-Williams.

Home/NBA