The 2014 NBA draft is widely considered one of the deepest and more top heavy drafts in recent years. Seemingly every year a prospect or two with major health issues really cranks up the rumor mill and creates uncertainty in the draft order, and this year is no exception. This year’s version of Alex Len and Nerlens Noel are played by Kansas center Joel Embiid and Kentucky power forward Julius Randle.
The freshman phenom with rare 2-way ability at the NBA’s most coveted position of center, Embiid, has undoubtedly been the biggest ripple in the draft’s pond. Previously a near lock to go number one overall to Cleveland after quelling doubts about his lingering back issues with an impressive workout, the Cameroonian rocked the draft world by having to undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his navicular bone. Stress fractures in the feet and ankles of seven footers are always grave news, especially since this is a similar injury that ended Yao Ming’s career and put a major hiatus on Zydrunas Ilgauskas’. The good news for Embiid is that he isn’t the giant they are, and he only has a four to six month time table for his return thanks to his youth. Nevertheless, the impact cannot be overstated. Cleveland, already an organization known for being unpredictable, is reportedly ramping up their interest in trading their no. 1 pick. Utah is supposedly offering a package of Derrick Favors and the No. 5 pick, with Cleveland’s Jarrett Jack and Utah’s Alec Burks and No. 23 pick also in the mix. Another scenario garnering buzz is the Orlando package of Arron Afflalo and the fourth and 12th picks. With so much potential trade activity, it will be anybody’s guess on how the first three to five picks play out now.
Julius Randle is another draft day enigma. It was recently reported that Randle’s foot, broken in high school, required surgery to remove screws and heal properly. Randle quickly refuted the report and only his doctor and NBA teams’ medical personnel know the real story at this point. Randle’s draft stock lost some steam despite a solid freshman campaign that ended in a tough loss in the National Championship. Randle offers one of the most NBA-ready games and a translatable rebounding skill set but measured out a smidgen smaller than the average NBA power forward. He is still a lock to be drafted in the high lottery, but if he falls much farther past the Celtics or Lakers at picks 6 and 7 respectively, then you can definitely chalk it up to teams being wary of that foot.
2014’s selection for number one overall appears to be a two-man race now between Kansas wing Andrew Wiggins and Duke SF/PF Jabari Parker. If Cleveland or Milwaukee are unconvinced that Wiggins, Parker, or Embiid will help them compete immediately, then they may look to sell high for a package of lower picks and veterans. Another wrinkle in the mix would be if teams are higher on Australian guard Dante Exum than they are letting on, working on deals to trade down and select him where it is less of a perceived reach. The only thing that is for certain is if you are filling out the draft as the picks are announced on Thursday, you better use a pencil with a good eraser.
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