Cavaliers Prefer Embiid With First Pick

[jonathanlambert33]

The Cleveland Cavaliers have 7-footer Joel Embiid at the top of their draft board, but it's still early in the process and the team needs to obtain medical information on the Cameroon native's back injury, sources told ESPN.com on Wednesday.

Sources also told ESPN.com that although Embiid is first on the organization's wish list, that doesn't mean that Cavs general manager David Griffin -- who had the interim tag lifted earlier this month -- isn't also considering Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker with the first pick.

http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2014/story/_/id/10963370/2014-nba-draft-cleveland-cavaliers-joel-embiid-top-draft-board-no-1-pick-per-sources

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Can't believe anything Jeff Goodman says but it seems logical

 

[bosoxlover12]

Kyrie & Waiters both need the ball in their hands to succeed, so why make that 3 by adding Wiggins/Parker?

Embiid is #1

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Since when does Wiggins NEED the ball to succeed? He can score 10+ points a game on cuts/fast break alone

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Perhaps not this early in his career, on a nightly basis, but nice Wiggins adds muscle and experience he will be able to impact a game without making an offensive play because of his defense and rebounding alone. I could see years where he's getting one and a half blocks a night as well.

 

[BwareDWare94]

They could draft Wiggins but isn't Bennett actually better than people realize? Didn't he come on about mid-season?

 

[CameronCrazy06]

They could draft Wiggins but isn't Bennett actually better than people realize? Didn't he come on about mid-season?

 
They aren't the same position

 

[buzzy]

I don't know much but to me this already feels like Oden/Durant Pt. 2.

Embiid has apparently already refused to give out his medical history.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

They could draft Wiggins but isn't Bennett actually better than people realize? Didn't he come on about mid-season?

He played better when he actually got into games. But there were still a lot of DNP's and he didn't have anywhere to go but up.

 

[BwareDWare94]

He played better when he actually got into games. But there were still a lot of DNP's and he didn't have anywhere to go but up.

 
Is there a point in drafting him ahead of either Parker and Embiid, though? I mean, should they even be considering it and owning their mistake on Bennett?

 

[elcheato]

Post all-star break Bennett averaged 5.7 points (47% FG) and 3.6 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game.
 
Per 36 that's 15 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game.
 
Obviously, that's basing a lot off only 13 minutes per game in 11 games, but he was definitely improved, but still was not rewarded with playing time because Mike Brown derp. I thin part of his good stretch dates back to pre all-star break as well, just don't didn't feel like going further back. Was out of shape in the first half, and lost confidence quickly. He has a future.

 

[buzzy]

In hindsight, what would've been your ideal '13 draft outcome?

Dipo and flipping Dion?

 

[CameronCrazy06]

 
Is there a point in drafting him ahead of either Parker and Embiid, though? I mean, should they even be considering it and owning their mistake on Bennett?

 
THEY AREN'T THE SAME POSITION, again.

 

[elcheato]

I would venture to guess Waiters wasn't as valuable last off-season as he is now, so we would have been selling low on Dion to draft a guy who will probably never be an all-star (not saying Waiters will). Bennett still seems like the logical pick to me, unless you want to roll the dice on Noel's health, which I was willing to do, and would still be willing to do, but not anymore if the Cavs have a chance of Embiid, and think he'll hold up.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I don't see how Bennett was the logical pick considering most mocks had him in the 6-10 range. It was no secret the Cavs reached for him

 

[elcheato]

Mock drafts from Joe Sixpack don't signify reaches to me.
 
The whole top 10 aside from Oladipo played shitty this year, and even Oladipo was a bit of a dissapointment, as the Magic drafted him with the idea that he could play PG, and nothing about this season showed he has that capability.
 
Bennett still has amazing athleticism, a good jump shot, rebounding prowess, and I like his potential to grow defensively. I like him moving forward than anyone else in the top 10 aside from Oladipo, but again, I think we would have been selling really low on Waiters.

 

[BwareDWare94]

 
THEY AREN'T THE SAME POSITION, again.

 
Did not see your first post. Relax. I thought they were both 3s.

 

[BwareDWare94]

I thought they envisioned Bennett as a 3.

 

[elcheato]

The plan was always for him to be a PF, but they panicked when he struggled out of the gate, and they needed help at SF, so they forced him there, and it stunted his growth even more.

 

[elcheato]

Anyway, absolutely hoping this is correct information (only of course if his back does check out). Embiid is the clear #1 prospect to me, oozing potential, and for an inexperienced player, he already looks so polished, on both ends.