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Chad Ford Sees Lakers Taking Embiid With Top Pick
Posted by: Corey Hansford (January 15, 2014)

This off-season will be one of the most crucial in Lakers history. With nearly the entire roster eligible for free agency and a likely lottery pick in one of the deepest drafts in NBA history, it is likely that we will see a lot of new faces on the Lakers next season.

This year’s NBA Draft is full of excellent prospects who could alter a franchise and one of those is Kansas center Joel Embiid. In a recent chat on ESPN.com, draft analyst Chad Ford spoke about the likelihood that the Lakers would take him if they were to receive the top pick in the draft:

I think the Jazz and Celtics have Jabari Parker rated ahead of him right now. The Magic and Sixers have Andrew Wiggins rated ahead of him. I think the Bucks, Kings, Cavs, Lakers would all go Embiid. I could see the Celtics, Sixers and Magic switching to Embiid by June. Think Jazz would stick with Parker.

With the team unlikely to retain Pau Gasol after the season, taking Embiid would make a lot of sense. He is an extremely raw prospect who has only been playing basketball for four years, but the skills he has already developed in that timeframe are amazing. In his last game against Iowa St., Embiid totaled 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocks while shooting seven of eight from the field.

There is a lot of work to be done before the draft takes place in June. We have no clue where the Lakers will be selecting in the draft and things can change. With guys like Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Marcus Smart, the Lakers could have a lot of options come draft day.

Chad Ford Believes Lakers Will Take Embiid
Posted by: Alex Torres (January 15, 2014)

The Lakers are not very good this season, but there might be some light at the end of the tunnel. If the Lakers can continue losing games at this pace, they will surely have a high draft pick. If they can luckily land the top pick of the draft, Chad Ford of ESPN beieves the Lakers would take Kansas freshman Joel Embiid.

The 2014 draft class is loaded and it’s projected to be one of the best of all-time. At the beginning of the college season, Andrew Wiggins was believed to be the consensus No. 1 pick, but many players are vying for that top pick since then. Other players battling for draft position are Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart, and Aaron Gordon. Ford thinks the Lakers have Embiid at the top of their draft board, but there is still so much time left until the draft and so many options to consider.

Embiid has slowly risen to one of the top prospects. He is a seven footer and only 19 years old, but his potential is what is most promising. He is currently averaging 10.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game and is improving with each passing day. Embiid is showing improvement on the offensive end and although he is a bit raw, he makes up for it in athleticism. He still has much to learn, but Ford believes he has the highest ceiling out of all the prospects and could potentially be a franchise player in the next level.

At one point, Embiid was considered a risky pick, but he is rapidly making doubters into believers. If the Lakers are fortunate enough to land the coveted top pick, will they be willing to risk it based on potential? Or will they more comfortable drafting a more seasoned Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins?

gotokyo wrote:I wish I could get paid for writing articles stating the obvious.

WCDYNASTY wrote:

gotokyo wrote:I wish I could get paid for writing articles stating the obvious.

I posted the articles so everybody could see them and respond... but my personal opinion is that drafting Embiid is not the "obvious" player to pick, I'd go with Parker or Wiggins. Embiid is good but raw, has only played game for 4 years though improving damn near every week. Just remember how things turned out for the Clippers with Michael Olowokandi.

Tiesto_Lakers wrote:The sky is blue.

TonyMontana wrote:

Tiesto_Lakers wrote:The sky is blue.

Your lying!!

Embiid or Parker is the clear choice for us.

EArl wrote:If were top 3 and embiid and Parker go 1 and 2 I can assure you that I won't feel bad for drafting wiggins.

EArl wrote:If were top 3 and embiid and Parker go 1 and 2 I can assure you that I won't feel bad for drafting wiggins.

LApwnd wrote:IF Embiid becomes clear # 1 and we get #1 I'd trade with Philly getting at least 3-6 and NOH Pick, I would trade down with Phi and try to get Smarts or Exum at the earlier pick and take a big with the Hornets pick. I can't trust a big who's only played 2 years of ball, I dont want to see a repeat of Olowakandi who was in the same boat as Embiid when he got picked 1st.

AdonisDeMarion wrote:I want Wiggins, Parker is nice, Embiid will end up being a Laker years from now