2014 NBA Draft: How Far Will Joel Embiid Fall?

Feb 4, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid (21) warms up before the game against the Baylor Bears at the Ferrell Center. The Jayhawks defeated the Bears 69-52. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid (21) warms up before the game against the Baylor Bears at the Ferrell Center. The Jayhawks defeated the Bears 69-52. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
4 of 8

Philadelphia 76ers, No. 3 Pick

Joel Embiid
Feb 18, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) during warmups prior to the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Draft Him: Poor Sixers. Despite tanking their asses off all season long, they didn’t get the No. 1 pick. But with Embiid’s surging draft stock and the Bucks taking a liking to Parker, it looked like Philadelphia would still get their man Wiggins with the No. 3 pick. Embiid’s latest injury throws a wrench in the works, but maybe it’s for the best. After all, if these injury concerns prove to be irrelevant, the Sixers could have a potentially dynastic frontcourt in Nerlens Noel and Embiid. And wait, did I just almost feel sorry for the team that lost 26 games in a row?

Don’t Draft Him: Just because the third option of the clear top three might still be available doesn’t mean the Sixers should jump on it. Noel was a smart choice, but he’s still a risky option at center and we’ve never even seen him play a single NBA game yet. Why take the risk if you can still nab Dante Exum to pair with Michael Carter-Williams in the backcourt? And even if that’s not enticing, Philly could always look to cash in on MCW’s bloated rookie stat line and trade him as well.

Probability: 33%