Joel Embiid, the 3rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, was a bit of a disappointment being that he was on the top of everyone’s board until the final week leading up to the draft. He is so talented that he WILL become the next Hakeem Olajuwon OR.. Sam Bowie if his injuries prove to be chronic.
I really think Philly did well with this pick. Pairing him with Nerlens Noel we might have a Twin Towers 2.0 ala Timmy Duncan and “The Admiral” David Robinson. Throw in Michael Carter Williams and you have a potential contender in years to come. At 7’0 and 240 he’s got the size to be a force in this league.
Joel Embiid’s biggest strength is that he can score as a big man. He has excellent moves in the low post which is an area where a lot of NBA players struggle defending. I am confident he would have averaged close to 20 points a game if it weren’t for his teammate Andrew Wiggins who went #1 overall. Assuming he comes back to full strength and these injuries were flukes, he will average 20 and 10 for years to come. His field goal percentage was off the charts considering how many touches he got a game. He shot 63% from the field on about 11 shots per game. This will be a big boost for the 76ers as they shot 29th in the league around the basket shooting a terrible 54.9%. His potential is outstanding considering how young and athletic he is.
More strengths are his shot-blocking and rebounding. He reminds me a bit of Anthony Davis in his physique and how he plays the game. If Embiid would have gotten the minutes that Anthony Davis played for Kentucky then their numbers would have been on par for total rebounds and blocks per game. I really think he will be an immediate star in this league depending on his health.
He does have weaknesses and I feel the main one is his experience. He started playing at the age of 15 and I don’t feel like he has had enough experience playing basketball like other players in the draft. At Kansas there were some games where he struggled making the best decision for his team. His basketball IQ will come with more experience. Give him the right coach and you have a potential Hall of Famer. Another is quite obvious—his health. If he can’t stay healthy he will become the next Greg Oden. If he can work through these injuries he will be a star. He’ll put on good muscle weight and become great like other players so don’t worry about him being a little lanky right now, with NBA trainers and coaches he will be able to develop his game and his body to fit and succeed in the NBA.
Overall he is a great fit for almost any team right now. He brings size, athleticism, and a presence down low into the league. He has the potential to be great but only time will tell if he can stay healthy. The Philadelphia 76ers are doing an excellent job rebuilding by finding young talented players that want to win. If Embiid wouldn't have his health problems would you have picked him with the 1st pick? Let us know what you want us to talk about next!
I feel like Embiid is an excellent talent. Who wouldn't want to pick a player that has the potential to be a Hakeem Olajuwon type player?! If I were the Cavs Embiid would have been my pick at number one.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the Cavs didn't want to take a risk with Embiid. You can make a case for either Parker, Wiggins, or Embiid to be picked number one. They went with the guy they thought would play better in their system.
DeleteI wouldn't want to pick somebody with so many injuries though. His whole career might be full of injuries. That wouldn't be very beneficial for any team. But who knows? I want to see what this guy can do in the NBA.
ReplyDeleteHe could be Sam Bowie 2.0 or he could be Hakeem Olajuwon 2.0. It's a risk most teams wouldn't be willing to take but the 76ers did it last year with Nerlens Noel and he looked great in the Summer League.
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