Hmm.... trading the #3 pick (full rookie contract control for the third best player in this draft) for two years control (one guaranteed, one team option) on a guy who hasn't played in over two years and is of questionable status to play in this next one?
In the absence of further data regarding the long term health prospectus of young Mr. Embiid, I'll have to pass on this idea.
If someone could convince me that:
a) Embiid was 100% healed and not at risk for further injuries related to the foot stress fractures and
b) Embiid was 100% certain to be able to recover his game fitness and such that he isn't at extra risk to have some _other_ injury related to having gotten way out of shape and
c) Embiid was 100% certain to be able to recover his basketball skills to a high enough level to worth putting on an NBA court
then I could be convinced to think about this.
i think it's more that embiid might have superstar potential and the players available at #3 might have a ceiling as "starter".
That's probably a grand exaggeration. I'm sure someone taken after the top 2 in this draft will end up being a star. But who knows if it will be someone taken at 3. And there's still plenty to be concerned about with embiid. M
That said, if I was a gambling man, I wouldn't mind throwing some money down on embiid as a long shot rookie of the year candidate next season. If healthy, he still might be very special. And I guess that's why they came up with that trade idea in that article.