Woj: Celtics in Play for Embiid

[LarBrd33]

He's going in the top 4

I hope you're wrong.

I hope I'm wrong too, but he's still going in the Top 4.  Philly or Orlando will leverage their position by taking Embiid and trading down.

[bknova]

It seems sensible that #1 and #2 will be Wiggins and Parker in some order.

After that, I think the whole premise of the Woj prediction of Ebiid to Sixers, Celtics, or Lakers is based on the rumors the mysterious medical records that were not shared with Orlando or Utah.  It also make sense that Orl and Utah already have decent big guys so maybe they are less likely to take the chance on Embiid.

None of this seems to be to be reassuring enough though.  Embiid could go anywhere and most likely will be gone before #6.  I know that if we have the chance at him, we almost have to take him, partly because we have so many other picks, it is easier for us to take the risk, but the medical side really scares me.

Two challenges to your assertion:
1) If Philly passes, he's almost 100% available at 6.  Unless there's a trade into 4/5 Orlando and Utah will run for the hills if 3 of the 5 teams that have actually seen his medical records pass. 

2) Its not easier for us to take the risk because we have so many other picks (this could end up being the highest of all those picks) but rather the opportunity cost.  At 3-5 you don't take him cause you are most certainly passing on Exum, Smart, Vonleh, Randle.  At 6 you're only passing on one of those guys. This guy has been my dream draft pick since December and I'm not sure with a back and a foot that I could take him at 3.   

And that is why I think Philly ends up passing.  Too much opportunity left on the board.
But we'll see I guess.

[footey]

‏@WojYahooNBA  32s
Joel Embiid's seriously in play for three spots in top part of lottery: 76ers (3), Celtics (6), Lakers (7), league sources tell Yahoo.

Given what Orlando just did with the Affalo trade, its looking more & more like Philly might be the only obstacle standing between the Celtics and an opportunity at Embiid.

Outside of a trade.

Exactly.

I'd be most fearful of Philly trading into that top slot to get their guy in Wiggins then CLE nabbing Embiid at #3.

Doubt Cleveland would take Embiid. I think that is why they wanted to interview Exum.  Embiid medical does not look good.

[Tr1boy]

I bet after his foot is nearly healed from surgery the Celts will ask embiid to get a lower back surgery next.  If he gets these two things fixed, he is young enough to heal properly, the Celts basically got the 1st pick at 6th.

I bet you don't really understand how stress fractures work. It's considerably different from your run-of-the mill impact break.

A stress fracture occurs because your body isn't able to handle the workload you're throwing at it. There is no guarantee that this issue can be mitigated with a regimen -- there could be metabolic reasons why Embiid's body may never be able to handle the rigors of the NBA season.

He's had 2 different stress fractures before he even played an NBA game. Draw your own conclusions -- mine is "too much of a risk".

maybe his back stress fracture occured bc he didn't even know he had foot issues one day.

After the foot is fixed maybe the back issues will go away. I'm no doctor but i can see how one could affect the other

[clover]

I bet after his foot is nearly healed from surgery the Celts will ask embiid to get a lower back surgery next.  If he gets these two things fixed, he is young enough to heal properly, the Celts basically got the 1st pick at 6th.

I bet you don't really understand how stress fractures work. It's considerably different from your run-of-the mill impact break.

A stress fracture occurs because your body isn't able to handle the workload you're throwing at it. There is no guarantee that this issue can be mitigated with a regimen -- there could be metabolic reasons why Embiid's body may never be able to handle the rigors of the NBA season.

He's had 2 different stress fractures before he even played an NBA game. Draw your own conclusions -- mine is "too much of a risk".

Stress fractures occur more often in the young, which makes sense, since they are tied to the muscles fatiguing and bone structures being less mature. Given that Embiid as a 7-footer has undergone such structural growth and that he has been force-fed repetitive basketball practice and games these last few years, these injuries are not surprising.

But once they heal, with proper strengthening in the vulnerable areas, he should be less and less vulnerable to them than he was cramming basketball for the draft as a 19-to-20-year-old.

[footey]

I bet after his foot is nearly healed from surgery the Celts will ask embiid to get a lower back surgery next.  If he gets these two things fixed, he is young enough to heal properly, the Celts basically got the 1st pick at 6th.

I bet you don't really understand how stress fractures work. It's considerably different from your run-of-the mill impact break.

A stress fracture occurs because your body isn't able to handle the workload you're throwing at it. There is no guarantee that this issue can be mitigated with a regimen -- there could be metabolic reasons why Embiid's body may never be able to handle the rigors of the NBA season.

He's had 2 different stress fractures before he even played an NBA game. Draw your own conclusions -- mine is "too much of a risk".

Stress fractures occur more often in the young, which makes sense, since they are tied to the muscles fatiguing and bone structures being less mature. Given that Embiid as a 7-footer has undergone such structural growth and that he has been force-fed repetitive basketball practice and games these last few years, these injuries are not surprising.

But once they heal, with proper strengthening in the vulnerable areas, he should be less and less vulnerable to them than he was cramming basketball for the draft as a 19-to-20-year-old.

Please don't share your sunny prognosis with Philly.

[TheBig3]

Phillies fans salivating for them to draft Embiid at 3....

[Rondo9]

Some Philly fans are clamoring for Embiid, but many others want Dante Exum or hope that Andrew Wiggins drops to three.

[j804]

I just want either Vonleh/Smart/Gordon drafted before us because that would mean either Exum or Embiid falls to us

[Celtics39]

It's amazing to me that so many are willing to risk such a high pick on a guy who has a GREAT chance of never being healthy. I'd really be frustrated if we take Embiid and he's Greg Oden 2.0. This entire year would have been for naught.

[LarBrd33]

Some people hear the name Embiid and in their mind they hear "Oden".

It's not the same situation.  I've read enough opinions on this to believe that Embiid's going to be fine.  He's not some gimp with old man disease who lumbers up and down a court.  This is a fluid young player with a fixable injury.

And he's not falling past 4.  If he's still available at #6, it means there's something really serious in those medical reports that we haven't heard about yet... and at that point, all bets are off... He might still be there at #17

[Rondo9]

Some people hear the name Embiid and in their mind they hear "Oden".

It's not the same situation.  I've read enough opinions on this to believe that Embiid's going to be fine.  He's not some gimp with old man disease who lumbers up and down a court.  This is a fluid young player with a fixable injury.

And he's not falling past 4.  If he's still available at #6, it means there's something really serious in those medical reports that we haven't heard about yet... and at that point, all bets are off... He might still be there at #17

Or Philly feels he's not worth the risk at number three. Orlando and Utah don't have (reportedly) his records to make a conclusion. It's possible he'll slip to six.

[aingeforthree]

Some people hear the name Embiid and in their mind they hear "Oden".

It's not the same situation.  I've read enough opinions on this to believe that Embiid's going to be fine.  He's not some gimp with old man disease who lumbers up and down a court.  This is a fluid young player with a fixable injury.

And he's not falling past 4.  If he's still available at #6, it means there's something really serious in those medical reports that we haven't heard about yet... and at that point, all bets are off... He might still be there at #17

Definitely not the same situation.  You take the chance and draft him.  Then do what you did with Sullinger, except without him playing at first.  Shut him down, & wait a year.  You don't need the kid the first year.

[LarBrd33]

Some people hear the name Embiid and in their mind they hear "Oden".

It's not the same situation.  I've read enough opinions on this to believe that Embiid's going to be fine.  He's not some gimp with old man disease who lumbers up and down a court.  This is a fluid young player with a fixable injury.

And he's not falling past 4.  If he's still available at #6, it means there's something really serious in those medical reports that we haven't heard about yet... and at that point, all bets are off... He might still be there at #17

Or Philly feels he's not worth the risk at number three. Orlando and Utah don't have (reportedly) his records to make a conclusion. It's possible he'll slip to six.

Philly could pass on him.  But there's no point in Orlando passing on him at #4.  Either they take him for themselves or trade him to a team like Utah/Boston/LA/Sac to move down a couple spots and get an additional asset.   If Orlando still has that pick (and hasn't traded it to the Cavs... who would take Embiid) and decides it doesn't want another future superstar big man... it will be a bidding war to take that pick away from them.

And the "Doesn't have the medical reports' thing is a bunch of crap.  The teams that didn't get the medical reports will just buy them from the teams that did.   You aren't going to send it to 6 teams and expect it to remain secret what's inside.

[Celtics39]

Some people hear the name Embiid and in their mind they hear "Oden".

It's not the same situation.  I've read enough opinions on this to believe that Embiid's going to be fine.  He's not some gimp with old man disease who lumbers up and down a court.  This is a fluid young player with a fixable injury.

And he's not falling past 4.  If he's still available at #6, it means there's something really serious in those medical reports that we haven't heard about yet... and at that point, all bets are off... He might still be there at #17

So not a red flag to you that 3 years into his basketball career he already has a chronically bad back and is going to miss a year because of a foot injury?