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The Philadelphia 76ers selected Kansas center Joel Embiid with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
With the #3 in the 2014 #NBADraft, the #Sixers select center Joel Embiid of Kansas! pic.twitter.com/fpBuvjm5mb
— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) June 26, 2014
Embiid was thought to be the top pick in the draft for most of the pre-draft process, with the Cleveland Cavaliers emerging from a workout feeling comfortable with the status of his troublesome back. Doctors then found a broken navicular bone in his right foot, terrifying those around the NBA who can recall a handful of elite big men who were limited by foot issues.
In Embiid's favor, however, are youth, improvements in medical treatment, and the fact that he's still very light for a 7-footer. That was enough for the 76ers to take the plunge, and they could very well end up with the best player from this loaded draft class.
That's because the Cameroon native has the skill set to eventually become a generational talent. An incredibly long and athletic big, Embiid already has a feel for the game far beyond his limited experience would suggest. He has post moves, he can shoot from mid-range, and he made a handful of impossible passes from the block as a freshman. And, of course, there's the rim protection, which projects as elite.
Many questioned whether the 76ers would take the plunge on another center, given that they added Nerlens Noel a year ago, but the talent the big man has to offer was simply too much to pass up. The Cameroon native could be the league's next dominant center. If he were to live up to his potential, the Sixers are getting a steal at No. 3.
On Wednesday, Embiid tweeted out that he would be a Los Angeles Laker, but promptly deleted the tweet. There has been some chatter that the 76ers and Lakers could work out a trade that would see Embiid move to the West Coast, but for now, he's a 76er.
