Chad Ford Sees Lakers Taking Embiid With Top Pick

[WCDYNASTY]

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.

SOURCE:
http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news-chad-ford-sees-lakers-taking-embiid-with-top-pick/2014/01/15/

[WCDYNASTY]

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?

SOURCE:
http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-news-and-rumors-chad-ford-believes-lakers-will-take-embiid/2014/01/15/

[Tiesto_Lakers]

The sky is blue.

[gotokyo]

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

[WCDYNASTY]

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.

[gotokyo]

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.

It's the Lakers, of course Embiid will be the obvious choice. Lakers have always had or attempted to have a franchise center to build the team around.

They drafted a raw, unproven 17 year old andrew bynum the last time they were in the lottery. Developed him into an all star player before he knees gave out.

[TonyMontana]

The sky is blue.

Your lying!!

Embiid or Parker is the clear choice for us.

[myersia]

The sky is blue.

Your lying!!

Embiid or Parker is the clear choice for us.

Embiid is solid but you would be crazy not to take Parker if we got 1st pick.

[Dr Aki]

nah, embiid

the problem isnt taking embiid, its whether embiid will still be available at #3-5 where our pick will at best land

and then whether seeing whether milwaukee or orlando will NOT take embiid, which is harder to see

[EArl]

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.

[BullsLakersFan]

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.

Me neither. Even if he doesn't reach his potential, he would still be a super-athletic guy, who can really defend and attack the rim, exactly what we lack.

[Dr Aki]

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.

i would

[NBAWestFan]

Hopefully Adam Silver will be nicer than Stern and give the Lakers the #1 pick
The Bucks, Magic, Cavaliers, Charlotte all have had good picks in recent years.

I see the top pick going to the Lakers or Celtics. If Rondo comes back the chances go up the top pick
goes to the Lakers. Is it rigged maybe maybe not?

There is one guy to select but one or two of them could become a more exciting All star to watch

[TylersLakers]

The moment the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans got the 1st pick in the draft lottery, you knew it was fixed.

We better get it after being hosed on the Chris Paul trade a couple years ago.

[timdunkit]

If we get the #1 pick, I'd be picking Wiggins.

Slides in nicely at the SF position beside Kobe. Can contribute now for a winning team (especially on the defensive end) and then take the reins from Kobe in 2 years.

[LApwnd]

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]

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

[myersia]

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.

Excellent point. If we get the 1st pick for some reason, I think you HAVE to take Parker. But if we are going with Embiid I would like to see us grab two picks as you stated and maybe even a filler such as Evan Turner since the 76ers want to get rid of him so bad.

[NBAWestFan]

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

After watching some play you can't go wrong with Either.
But I am now starting to think this is possible if Wiggins were picked.

Kobe becomes Coach/Mentor Kobe and 3 or so years Embiid will be on a bad
team and sign with the Lakers.

[supaflash]

That's what I've said in other threads, would be nice to turn good fortune into potentially 2 good players instead of one. I am starting to think Embiid is the pick of this draft but there are some good ones out there. If the draft order worked itself out right I really think we could make a steal but who knows. Draft Parker and trade him to Utah for Embiid an an asset to a third team for Gordon/Vonleh and bam you have your front line of the future. I like those two guys, Gordon to me still has huge upside, strong, athletic, works hard, rounding out the all around skills, Vonleh is starting to remind me of Bosh a little. I like rolling with Young, Xavier, and Johnson for a few years. Wiggins is starting to remind me a little of Young, who has played well this year and not a bad comparison, just not the TMac/Bron type of hype that he had before. If Gordon continues his overall skill development I could really see him becoming a Paul George type after a few years or Griffin depending on how his strenght/speed/ and skill develop from here.