Joel Embiid has become so synonymous with the 76ers, he co-opted the moniker of Sam Hinkie’s bold plan – The Process – as his own nickname.” data-reactid=”19″ type=”text”>Joel Embiid has become so synonymous with the 76ers, he co-opted the moniker of Sam Hinkie’s bold plan – The Process – as his own nickname.
But Embiid was always so keen on Philadelphia.
Cavaliers or by the Lakers, who held the No. 7 pick.” data-reactid=”21″ type=”text”>As he entered the NBA in 2014, Embiid had ambitions of getting drafted No. 1 by the Cavaliers or by the Lakers, who held the No. 7 pick.
A reminder how the 2014 NBA draft began:
Andrew Wiggins” data-reactid=”23″ type=”text”>1. Cavaliers: Andrew Wiggins
Jabari Parker” data-reactid=”24″ type=”text”>2. Bucks: Jabari Parker
3. 76ers: Joel Embiid
Aaron Gordon” data-reactid=”26″ type=”text”>4. Magic: Aaron Gordon
Dante Exum” data-reactid=”27″ type=”text”>5. Jazz: Dante Exum
Marcus Smart” data-reactid=”28″ type=”text”>6. Celtics: Marcus Smart
Julius Randle” data-reactid=”29″ type=”text”>7. Lakers: Julius Randle
worked out in Cleveland and impressed the Cavs, who were then run by David Griffin.” data-reactid=”30″ type=”text”>That June, Embiid worked out in Cleveland and impressed the Cavs, who were then run by David Griffin.
Tanking to the Top:”” data-reactid=”31″ type=”text”>Yaron Weitzman in “Tanking to the Top:”
Smiles swept across the faces of Griffin and the rest of the Cavaliers brain trust. Griffin would later tell people that it was the best workout he’d ever seen. “He was like the second coming of Hakeem,” he’d say. His mind was made. “He told us there he was taking Joel No. 1,” said Francois Nyam, one Embiid’s agents at the time.
fractured foot. For a player who already had medical concerns, that caused too much trepidation in Cleveland and Milwaukee.” data-reactid=”34″ type=”text”>But Embiid was soon diagnosed with a fractured foot. For a player who already had medical concerns, that caused too much trepidation in Cleveland and Milwaukee.
Weitzman:
Griffin had a mandate from ownership to win and needed a player who could immediately help the team. Even if he wanted to take Embiid, the Cavaliers’ doctors wouldn’t give him the green light. The Bucks, meanwhile, had locked in on Parker, another Tellem client, at No. 2, and anyway, Embiid had no interest in playing there. “That place is corny,” he hold Nyam. What he really wanted was to fall to the Lakers at No. 7. He’d been living in Los Angeles and grown comfortable in the city. “Work your magic,” he told Tellem. Tellem knew there was no chance of Embiid plunging that far, so instead he and Nyam sold on Embiid on Philadelphia.
looked like the top two prospects given Embiid’s volatile health.” data-reactid=”38″ type=”text”>In fairness to the Cavaliers and Bucks, Wiggins and Parker looked like the top two prospects given Embiid’s volatile health.
Milwaukee and Cleveland sought – is a fool’s game. That’s the opportunity to land a long-term star. Besides, teams drafting that high are usually too far from winning to justify prioritizing quick help.” data-reactid=”39″ type=”text”>But chasing immediate help at the top of the draft – which both Milwaukee and Cleveland sought – is a fool’s game. That’s the opportunity to land a long-term star. Besides, teams drafting that high are usually too far from winning to justify prioritizing quick help.
LeBron James returned later that summer, and they traded Wiggins for Kevin Love. LeBron and Love helped Cleveland win a title. A LeBron-Embiid pairing was probably never in the cards. But it’s worth imagining: Would LeBron have remained patient during his (seemingly) dwindling prime if Cleveland kept an injured Embiid for two-plus seasons? Would LeBron and Kyrie Irving have led the Cavs to great success, anyway? If he waited out Embiid’s early-career injury woes, would LeBron still have left the Cavaliers – including a blossoming Embiid – in 2018?” data-reactid=”40″ type=”text”>The Cavs were an
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