11.9% chance of winning the draft lottery as of today

[crimson_stallion]

I see one problem with the Hakeem / Embiid comparisons.  Hakeem had outstanding BBIQ - Embiid seems to have the BBIQ of DeAndre Jordan.

 Also don't agree about Parker having the physical tools to be a  good NBA defender.  Everything I've seen on Parker suggest that his lack of lateral quickness is biggest thing  holdinghim back from being an above average defender.

I'd like a two way player myself - Wiggins, Smart or Exum.  Maybe Randle.  I wouldn't complain if we got Embiid, but he sounds to me like a big risk at such a high pick.  To me he looks like the most likely to disappoint out of the top prospect...I fear the possibility of him becoming the next JaVale McGee (just with better offensive upside). 

He'll contribute no matter what, especially on defense and boards, but his story just sounds way to muchlike a rich man's Fab Melo story to me, kinda scares me of a bit.

If be ok with taking the gamble, but this is a great with a lot of talent, and there are a good 4-5 guys who are highly likely to be future all-stars.   Parker looks like a future Carmello, Smart looks like a slightly less athletic D Wade, Exum looks like the next Penny Hardaway, Wiggins could be the next Paul George, Randle could be thenext Antonio McDyess (he was a beast before he got injured).

Then you have Embiid, who there's much uncertainty about.  He could become the next Mutombo or the next David Robinson ... or he could become Handle McGee or Michael Olowokandi or Samuel Dalembert.   I think he's probably thebiggest gamble in the top 6, followed by Wiggins (who could, as others have said, be another Jeff Green).

[cman88]

I still feel like most contending teams these days have elite small forwards. Green definitely isnt the answer, so I feel we should go for Wiggins/Parker.

I know they say always go for the big, but that hasnt always worked out for teams...its a guards league right now.

[indeedproceed]

I see one problem with the Hakeem / Embiid comparisons.  Hakeem had outstanding BBIQ - Embiid seems to have the BBIQ of DeAndre Jordan.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Hakeem/Embiid comparisons, but look at them side by side in their freshmen years:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/joel-embiid-1.html

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/hakeem-olajuwon-1.html

Embiid: 11.4 pts, 7.6 reb, 2.7 blks, 65.9% shooting
Hakeem: 8.3 pts, 6.2 reb, 2.5 blks, 60.7% shooting

Their per36 numbers are extremely similar as well.

[rondohondo]

I see one problem with the Hakeem / Embiid comparisons.  Hakeem had outstanding BBIQ - Embiid seems to have the BBIQ of DeAndre Jordan.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Hakeem/Embiid comparisons, but look at them side by side in their freshmen years:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/joel-embiid-1.html

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/hakeem-olajuwon-1.html

Embiid: 11.4 pts, 7.6 reb, 2.7 blks, 65.9% shooting
Hakeem: 8.3 pts, 6.2 reb, 2.5 blks, 60.7% shooting

Their per36 numbers are extremely similar as well.

Embiid is also a very good passer out of the post when being double teamed, a lot like Sully.

[BballTim]

I see one problem with the Hakeem / Embiid comparisons.  Hakeem had outstanding BBIQ - Embiid seems to have the BBIQ of DeAndre Jordan.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Hakeem/Embiid comparisons, but look at them side by side in their freshmen years:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/joel-embiid-1.html

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/hakeem-olajuwon-1.html

Embiid: 11.4 pts, 7.6 reb, 2.7 blks, 65.9% shooting
Hakeem: 8.3 pts, 6.2 reb, 2.5 blks, 60.7% shooting

Their per36 numbers are extremely similar as well.

  Hakeem grew up playing soccer and was pretty new to the game of basketball that year.

[D.o.s.]

One of the best things Bill Simmons ever wrote about basketball was the absolutely insane likelihood of a player being the next Hakeem.

But if Embiid is even 75% of The Dream, I'm going to be a very happy basketball fan, regardless of which team he ends up on (unless it's the Lakers).

[Fafnir]

I see one problem with the Hakeem / Embiid comparisons.  Hakeem had outstanding BBIQ - Embiid seems to have the BBIQ of DeAndre Jordan.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Hakeem/Embiid comparisons, but look at them side by side in their freshmen years:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/joel-embiid-1.html

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/hakeem-olajuwon-1.html

Embiid: 11.4 pts, 7.6 reb, 2.7 blks, 65.9% shooting
Hakeem: 8.3 pts, 6.2 reb, 2.5 blks, 60.7% shooting

Their per36 numbers are extremely similar as well.

  Hakeem grew up playing soccer and was pretty new to the game of basketball that year.

So is Embiid isn't he? I thought he started playing basketball competitively 3 years ago or something like that.

I don't think he's the next Hakeem of course but I thought a late start to basketball was part of the comparison.

[BleedGreen1989]

I see one problem with the Hakeem / Embiid comparisons.  Hakeem had outstanding BBIQ - Embiid seems to have the BBIQ of DeAndre Jordan.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Hakeem/Embiid comparisons, but look at them side by side in their freshmen years:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/joel-embiid-1.html

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/hakeem-olajuwon-1.html

Embiid: 11.4 pts, 7.6 reb, 2.7 blks, 65.9% shooting
Hakeem: 8.3 pts, 6.2 reb, 2.5 blks, 60.7% shooting

Their per36 numbers are extremely similar as well.

  Hakeem grew up playing soccer and was pretty new to the game of basketball that year.

So is Embiid isn't he? I thought he started playing basketball competitively 3 years ago or something like that.

I don't think he's the next Hakeem of course but I thought a late start to basketball was part of the comparison.

Yeah. Embiid didn't start playing organized basketball until a few years ago.

I don't want to compare anybody to The Dream, but I will say Embiid is #1 on my board.

[Tr1boy]

I see one problem with the Hakeem / Embiid comparisons.  Hakeem had outstanding BBIQ - Embiid seems to have the BBIQ of DeAndre Jordan.

 Also don't agree about Parker having the physical tools to be a  good NBA defender.  Everything I've seen on Parker suggest that his lack of lateral quickness is biggest thing  holdinghim back from being an above average defender.

I'd like a two way player myself - Wiggins, Smart or Exum.  Maybe Randle.  I wouldn't complain if we got Embiid, but he sounds to me like a big risk at such a high pick.  To me he looks like the most likely to disappoint out of the top prospect...I fear the possibility of him becoming the next JaVale McGee (just with better offensive upside). 

He'll contribute no matter what, especially on defense and boards, but his story just sounds way to muchlike a rich man's Fab Melo story to me, kinda scares me of a bit.

If be ok with taking the gamble, but this is a great with a lot of talent, and there are a good 4-5 guys who are highly likely to be future all-stars.   Parker looks like a future Carmello, Smart looks like a slightly less athletic D Wade, Exum looks like the next Penny Hardaway, Wiggins could be the next Paul George, Randle could be thenext Antonio McDyess (he was a beast before he got injured).

Then you have Embiid, who there's much uncertainty about.  He could become the next Mutombo or the next David Robinson ... or he could become Handle McGee or Michael Olowokandi or Samuel Dalembert.   I think he's probably thebiggest gamble in the top 6, followed by Wiggins (who could, as others have said, be another Jeff Green).

your serious right?

You can't have Jordans Iq and be able to pass like Embiid does at times

When you see him be indecisive at times , its bc he is still raw.

If Embiid stays another year in college, he would dominate.

Definitely the #1 ranked prospect right now. Only way that changes is, if someone else like wiggins or smart single handedly takes their team to at least the final four

[SHAQATTACK]

Don't flame me too bad here.....

But ,  I think Parker is a bit of Pierce about him.   

He can kill you from anywhere on the court with his offense ......and he is going to become a more efficient shooter and better handler in a few year.

[fairweatherfan]

One of the best things Bill Simmons ever wrote about basketball was the absolutely insane likelihood of a player being the next Hakeem.

But if Embiid is even 75% of The Dream, I'm going to be a very happy basketball fan, regardless of which team he ends up on (unless it's the Lakers).

The problems with comparisons like that is they're always taken as a comparison of overall greatness, instead of having similar characteristics.  Like when Tommy said Stiemsma had good timing on his shotblocking like Bill Russell - he was referring to one very small trait but everyone immediately assumed he was saying Stiemsma was as good as Russell. 

Embiid's skillset and game (and biography) is pretty similar to a young Hakeem.  That's good enough for an 19 year old, whether he'll ever approach Olajuwon's greatness or not.

[Tr1boy]

Don't flame me too bad here.....

But ,  I think Parker is a bit of Pierce about him.   

He can kill you from anywhere on the court with his offense ......and he is going to become a more efficient shooter and better handler in a few year.

Pierce was a good consistent defender and at times a clutch performer . I havent seen show either of these traits yet

[kg is king]

Don't flame me too bad here.....

But ,  I think Parker is a bit of Pierce about him.   

He can kill you from anywhere on the court with his offense ......and he is going to become a more efficient shooter and better handler in a few year.

Pierce was a good consistent defender and at times a clutch performer . I havent seen show either of these traits yet

Pierce was an average defender at best before KG got here.

[Donoghus]

Don't flame me too bad here.....

But ,  I think Parker is a bit of Pierce about him.   

He can kill you from anywhere on the court with his offense ......and he is going to become a more efficient shooter and better handler in a few year.

On the offensive end, I definitely see similiarities.

[Fafnir]

Don't flame me too bad here.....

But ,  I think Parker is a bit of Pierce about him.   

He can kill you from anywhere on the court with his offense ......and he is going to become a more efficient shooter and better handler in a few year.

Pierce was a good consistent defender and at times a clutch performer . I havent seen show either of these traits yet

Pierce was an average defender at best before KG got here.

Pierce was a very good to great defensive player as a youngster. He got lazy and bad habits as he became a "star" and focused on scoring. Doc got him playing D eventually and then KG and Thibs put in a system that he thrived in.