Jazz Should Take the Risk With Embiid

[jonathanlambert33]

ne of us are really in a good position to comment knowledgeably about Joel Embiid's situation. Even if any of us have extensive medical knowledge, it's safe to say none of us have seen Embiid's medical reports or know enough about his situation.

Instead, I would like to just generally talk about the risks the Jazz could and should be willing to take to maximize this draft, in regards to Embiid.

By now, hopefully you have checked out Kevin Pelton's investigative look at the historical precedent to this injury:


My research turned up four big men who have suffered navicular injuries in addition to Walton and Yao: Curtis Borchardt, Brendan Haywood, Zydrunas Ilgauskas andKevin McHale. There have also been a handful of perimeter players with navicular fractures, includingMichael Jordan, during his second season, and Philadelphia 76ers guard Andrew Toney, who missed nearly the entire 1985-86 campaign and was never the same again.

Despite Toney's example, navicular injuries have been more problematic for big men because of the additional weight and pressure they put on their feet. Discounting Hayward, who missed all of last season after undergoing surgery in October for a stress fracture of his navicular, the other five post players missed an average of 47.5 percent of their teams' scheduled games in seasons after the injury.

There are certainly some scary names in that list. But there are also names that went on to have meaningful careers after their injury. Here's Pelton with the bottom line:

When considering the impact of Embiid's navicular injury on his draft stock, the severity is hard to overstate. Not only could it potentially keep him off the floor all of next season, the chance of recurrence will always linger. There's a hope that, like Ilgauskas, he could eventually enjoy a long and productive career. But teams picking at the top of the draft must also be prepared for the possibility that Embiid misses multiple seasons or even has his career cut short.

For the sake of arguing and for not having any clue what will happen in the future, let's pretend that the Jazz are faced with two scenarios for Joel Embiid that each have a 50/50 chance of occurring: 1. This injury will be devastating to his career and he will be hobbled for the duration of his 6 year career. 2. He sits out a year and comes back to have the career we expected him to have before all this foot stuff came out.

There will be some who will say that the Jazz have to get this pick right. I agree with that. Opportunities to draft like this don't come very often. With that statement there is some inherent realization that the Jazz just can't bust here. They can not draft a guy that plays out Embiid's first and worst case scenario. But I would also argue that the Jazz cannot afford to come away from this draft with a player who is only good. The Jazz cannot afford to come away with a Tyreke Evans, or a Chris Kaman, or a JJ Redick. They need to do what they can to come away with a franchise game changer.

http://www.slcdunk.com/2014/6/20/5827914/why-the-jazz-could-proceed-with-embiid

 

[Thomas-Panda-Saxby]

Is Enus Kanter still alive?

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Yes. But he was a little bit of a disappointment in his first year as a starter.

 

[elcheato]

Having Penis Kanter ain't altering draft plans, that's for sure