Re-drafting the 2014 NBA Draft: Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic
![Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, re-drafting the 2014 NBA Draft (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, re-drafting the 2014 NBA Draft (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/52cc0c4747144bdcdc67b1be6b2ef60baa47df53f719748b65c8c3d9feccf62f.jpg)
Philadelphia 76ers. Zach LaVine. 3. player. 93. . SG
Re-drafting the 2014 NBA Draft — 3. Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine has emerged as one of three perennial All-Stars from the 2014 draft. At the time, LaVine’s draft stock was rooted in his springboard athleticism. It took him a few years to put the pieces together, but he has since complemented his preternatural bounce with the skill and basketball I.Q. necessary to lead the charge for a playoff team.
Defense is LaVine’s greatest flaw — he has never been very good on that end. That limits his ceiling as a No. 1 option, but his efficient, high-volume shooting generally makes up for it. He can bury teams behind the 3-point line, or slice the defense to pieces with sharp drives to the rim (where he often finishes in very entertaining fashion).
The Sixers go from All-NBA to All-Star here, which is a mild bummer, but LaVine has substantially outperformed pre-draft expectations. He was always a magnetic athlete, but now, his skill set has caught up. He’s one of the best off-guards in the game.