embiid tweets he'll be a laker???

[Roy H.]

Does anybody else get the feeling that if the Lakers draft him, he'll turn into an All-NBA level player, whereas if the Celts draft him, he'll be the next Greg Oden?

It's probably my New England cynicism.

[McHales Pits]

I have no idea about this, but is the bone density issue perhaps why he's getting stress fractures?  And can that be corrected?

Exactly my thoughts Roy.

[bknova]

Just saw on Twitter - that Chad Ford said on Mike and Mike that Embiid's medicals revealed more concerns other than his back and foot??

He mentioned several other smaller issues that apparently are common among prospects born in Africa where healthcare and nutrition might not be secure during their early childhood.

Anemia and other blood-work anomalies, bone density, and possibly hepatitis were what he mentioned.

If this is true, he'll no doubt be a Sixer.

[TwinTower14]

Does anybody else get the feeling that if the Lakers draft him, he'll turn into an All-NBA level player, whereas if the Celts draft him, he'll be the next Greg Oden?

It's probably my New England cynicism.

Yes - I have thought about this several times over the last 24 hours...

[Fafnir]

Just saw on Twitter - that Chad Ford said on Mike and Mike that Embiid's medicals revealed more concerns other than his back and foot??

He mentioned several other smaller issues that apparently are common among prospects born in Africa where healthcare and nutrition might not be secure during their early childhood.

Anemia and other blood-work anomalies, bone density, and possibly hepatitis were what he mentioned.

I have no idea about this, but is the bone density issue perhaps why he's getting stress fractures?  And can that be corrected?

To be clear I believe Ford was just listing off a laundry list of common things he's seen with African prospects, he didn't sound sure what other minor issues Embiid had going on.

No idea what can be done at his age now, proper nutrition couldn't hurt though. Having weaker bones would seem to lead to more fractures just from a physics standpoint.

[McHales Pits]

No idea what can be done at his age now, proper nutrition couldn't hurt though. Having weaker bones would seem to lead to more fractures just from a physics standpoint.

As someone who has done extensive material testing research, I can confirm this to be true. I could derive the equations for principal stress and strain and how it relates to shear stress by way of free body diagram and relate that to bone's compressive strength and shear strength.

...But who wants all that at 9 am. 

[nicknorman]

Just saw on Twitter - that Chad Ford said on Mike and Mike that Embiid's medicals revealed more concerns other than his back and foot??

He mentioned several other smaller issues that apparently are common among prospects born in Africa where healthcare and nutrition might not be secure during their early childhood.

Anemia and other blood-work anomalies, bone density, and possibly hepatitis were what he mentioned.

I have no idea about this, but is the bone density issue perhaps why he's getting stress fractures?  And can that be corrected?

To be clear I believe Ford was just listing off a laundry list of common things he's seen with African prospects, he didn't sound sure what other minor issues Embiid had going on.

No idea what can be done at his age now, proper nutrition couldn't hurt though. Having weaker bones would seem to lead to more fractures just from a physics standpoint.

I think him being from Africa is a non-issue in terms of health. Plenty of current NBA big men from Africa have healthy careers (Ibaka, Diop, Dieng and Biyombo come to mind). These players typically get a different upbringing once they are pegged as NBA potential so malnutrition seems unlikley. Not sure where Ford is getting this from. If something in Embiids released health records is saying there's something wrong I'm assuming its coincidental.

I say draft him and get him to Boston where we have the best doctors and specialists in the world to help get him on his feet.

[DesertDweller]

I thought all of you had this draft figured out, but now, on the day that it counts, everything seems to be falling apart!!!!
Someone just realized that Joel Embiid was from Africa and could have contracted some ailments that the CDC should look into.  Jabari Parker has grown a second head on his shooting hand, and Sully has a part time job as a hot air balloon for Ringling Brothers circus.

So I guess it's just some more excuses to throw in the towel and tank another year!!!!  Orrr, we could wait until tonight and see what Danny has got in mind.  I'll take the latter!!!

[Fafnir]

Just saw on Twitter - that Chad Ford said on Mike and Mike that Embiid's medicals revealed more concerns other than his back and foot??

He mentioned several other smaller issues that apparently are common among prospects born in Africa where healthcare and nutrition might not be secure during their early childhood.

Anemia and other blood-work anomalies, bone density, and possibly hepatitis were what he mentioned.

I have no idea about this, but is the bone density issue perhaps why he's getting stress fractures?  And can that be corrected?

To be clear I believe Ford was just listing off a laundry list of common things he's seen with African prospects, he didn't sound sure what other minor issues Embiid had going on.

No idea what can be done at his age now, proper nutrition couldn't hurt though. Having weaker bones would seem to lead to more fractures just from a physics standpoint.

I think him being from Africa is a non-issue in terms of health. Plenty of current NBA big men from Africa have healthy careers (Ibaka, Diop, Dieng and Biyombo come to mind). These players typically get a different upbringing once they are pegged as NBA potential so malnutrition seems unlikley.

Chad Ford directly stated that African prospects frequently have blood work that's abnormal, hepatitis, and other flags stemming from child hood issues. The fact that many African born players have successful careers does not in any way disprove or even impact that statement.

Malnutrition at an early age effects your body for years and years afterwards.

[aingeforthree]

Does anybody else get the feeling that if the Lakers draft him, he'll turn into an All-NBA level player, whereas if the Celts draft him, he'll be the next Greg Oden?

It's probably my New England cynicism.

I've never thought that.  I always thought Boston would be a great organization for him because their patient enough to let him get back to 100%.  They don't rush things whatsoever. In fact, they shut the player down if he's not right and play the waiting game almost to a fault.  They have a solid medical staff.

[Roy H.]

Does anybody else get the feeling that if the Lakers draft him, he'll turn into an All-NBA level player, whereas if the Celts draft him, he'll be the next Greg Oden?

It's probably my New England cynicism.

I've never thought that.  I always thought Boston would be a great organization for him because their patient enough to let him get back to 100%.  They don't rush things whatsoever. In fact, they shut the player down if he's not right and play the waiting game almost to a fault.  They have a solid medical staff.

I actually disagree with this.   Old-timers on the blog have probably heard me rail against the medical staff before, but they misdiagnosed Big Al's bone chips, they had Pierce and Wally repeatedly coming back too soon from sprained ankles, and their advice regarding KG's bone spurs turned out to be very poor. 

I just don't see a lot out of the Boston medical staff that makes them particularly better than the average NBA team's.

[JSD]

Does anybody else get the feeling that if the Lakers draft him, he'll turn into an All-NBA level player, whereas if the Celts draft him, he'll be the next Greg Oden?

It's probably my New England cynicism.

Haha. Pretty much

[mef730]

Does anybody else get the feeling that if the Lakers draft him, he'll turn into an All-NBA level player, whereas if the Celts draft him, he'll be the next Greg Oden?

It's probably my New England cynicism.

Then we'll have to hear about how, because they couldn't fix the draft lottery for the Lakers to win, they fixed the players. 

Mike

[CM0]

I just don't see the Lakers pulling the trigger on a guy who can't help them during Kobe's rapidly closing window. I see them going for an instant-contributor or trying to trade down or out altogether. Embiid being there gives them even more incentive as he might be thought to provide a ton of value at 8 even hurt and he doesn't really fit what seems to be LA's plan for this draft.

[RAcker]

Does anybody else get the feeling that if the Lakers draft him, he'll turn into an All-NBA level player, whereas if the Celts draft him, he'll be the next Greg Oden?

It's probably my New England cynicism.

I'm not from New England and had the same sickening thought.

Must be my southern cynicism too!