Freshman center Joel Embiid of Kansas may be only 19 years old, but he had been projected as a defensive game changer at his position for the next decade and a half, according to most NBA scouts who saw him as the possible first pick overall in the draft.
But the 7-0 prodigy from the Cameroon, who has only been playiing organized basketball for two years, has left himself open to nagging questions about whether he is a risk to future injuries after he reportedly suffered a fractured right foot within the past couple days that will require surgery. This is the second injury Embidd has suffered in the past four months. Embidd injured his during the later stages of the regular season at Kansas. He was shut down for the Big 12 tournament and did not play during the Jayhawks’ brief stay in the NCAA tournament.
Embiid worked out for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who has the No. 1 pick overall, last week and reporteldy passed their medical tests. It is unlikely he will do any more workouts before the June 26 draft.
If Embiid is a question, he would fall all the way to Olrando at 4. The Cavs likely will select Kansas forward Andew Wiggins at 1. Milwaukee would then take Duke freshman forward Jabari Parker and the Sixers is likely to choose 6-6 guard Dante Exum of Australia at 3.