Post NBA Draft Rountable: Grades, Embiid, Saric, + More

Mar 1, 2014; Stillwater, OK, USA; Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid (21) is defended by Oklahoma State Cowboys forward/center Kamari Murphy (21) and guard Markel Brown (22) during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

1) What was your immediate reaction to the Sixers selection of Joel Embiid?

Dante Nelson: My immediate reaction had to be Andrew Bynum, Nerlens Noel, and now Joel Embiid. Just a bunch of injured big men with promise and no production. I wasn’t excited.

Spencer Layman: When healthy, he’s the best player in the draft. The back doesn’t necessarily bother me because I’ve had that injury and been through it all. However, the foot scares me. Hinkie is going for the high risk on this pick and we all better hope Embiid pans out otherwise things could get ugly. 

Curt Jenkins: When the Sixers selected Embiid Immediately wanted to thrust my skull through the barstool I was sitting on. When I calmed down I realized that for the second year in a row Hinkie acquired the draft pick with the most upside and was honestly the best player available. We have to keep in mind it’s the long road not the short cut we are taking.  

Ryan Calpin: To be honest, my immediate reaction to the selection of Joel Embiid was not a good one. At first I didn’t understand the pick, and as I have said before I am not sold on Embiid. I think he can be injury prone, as he has shown early in his collegiate career. But as I thought about it some more, and the draft continued, I realized that Sam Hinkie wasn’t making picks for the 2014-2015 season, he was making picks for years to come. He gambled, and is hoping that Embiid will be the star that some experts think he can be in this league. I hope that Embiid becomes a star for this Sixers team. So overall, my immediate reaction was not good, but after thinking about it, I am hopeful.