[strobox88Participant]

 Joel Embiid should leave Kansas for the NBA draft.  Kansas is probably my favorite college basketball team and as much as I’d love to witness another season of Embiid playing at Kansas, I don’t really feel he has much more to prove at Kansas.  Yes, he couldn’t play in the tourney, so we will always wonder what could’ve been if he was in the rotation, but, similar to Nerlens Noel, Embiid left us with a great impression of his game at the college level.  Sure Embiid can come back and have an even better season, but I believe Embiid can reach his potential the fastest playing against better competition and receiving top-notch training the NBA has to offer.  His draft stock is as high as it’s going to get (top 3) without being NBA ready.  

There are also legit reasons why he could stay: 1 is because he hasn’t played basketball for too long even though he’s obviously good at it.  Expectations for him to produce right away or reach certain strides in his game in a strict amount of time can be overbearing. Another reason is development despite what I wrote earlier about him playing against better competition. Truth is Embiid still has much room to grow even at the college level, and if he can improve even more than he already has, he’ll be a top 3 pick next year but with more confidence to come in and produce more quickly.

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like Embiid has sort of a different approach toward the college game than other guys like Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.  He seems to be the player that most people find his development to be more intriguing than actually watching him win a championship.  Don’t get me wrong, winning is very important, but when I look at Embiid I don’t feel his main concern is "I want to win now with my talent" like, say, a Jabri Parker.  He’s more like "I want to keep getting better and through that, I can become a winner".

On a side note, Kansas shouldn’t be knocked off from being an elite team with Embiid gone as that would likely make them the best candidate to land 2nd ranked C recruit Myles Turner with both Embiid and Black gone this year. With a lineup of Tharpe, Selden, Oubure, Alexander/Ellis, Turner, Kansas should be very fun to watch next year.

[JoeWolf1]

 The only real reason I can think of that would benefit him is that he feels the need to adjust to American culture in a more close knit environment. He’s mentioned it in the past,  how sometimes he’s still overwhelmed by the culture here. 

I think it’s his time to go, he can let his back fully heal and be 100% by the combine, continue to work on his skills in the gym, and be a top 3 pick. I have no doubt if he came back, he’d be an absolute game changer next season, probably around 17/11/4, but with him getting hurt this year, if just seems like he should make the jump this season. I’d hate to see him come back as a soph and get hurt again.

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

 The only real reason I can think of that would benefit him is that he feels the need to adjust to American culture in a more close knit environment. He’s mentioned it in the past,  how sometimes he’s still overwhelmed by the culture here. 

I think it’s his time to go, he can let his back fully heal and be 100% by the combine, continue to work on his skills in the gym, and be a top 3 pick. I have no doubt if he came back, he’d be an absolute game changer next season, probably around 17/11/4, but with him getting hurt this year, if just seems like he should make the jump this season. I’d hate to see him come back as a soph and get hurt again.

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 1. He is a top 3 pick

2. See #1

 

[strobox88Participant]

I said he was a top 3 pick. See the first paragraph of my post.

[strobox88Participant]

I said he was a top 3 pick. See the first paragraph of my post.

[ChewyParticipant]

 1. He is a top 3 pick

2. See #1

 

[Jayhawks2011Participant]

 One other thing that i feel is being overlooked is playing a season of 82 games vs 40.  He has shown to be fragile and his body is obviouisly not ready yet.  Could playing 82 games next year hurt his long term health??  If you look at bigs and how long they stayed in college I wonder if there is an effect on health.  Bynum and Davis had health problems early.  Where you look at a guy like Tim Duncan who stayed all 4 years and has had impecable health.  Although that is an extremely small sample size it will be interesting to see if there is an effect on the health over the 82 game season or 40 for young bigs who have not yet developed an NBA ready body.

[Jayhawks2011Participant]

 One other thing that i feel is being overlooked is playing a season of 82 games vs 40.  He has shown to be fragile and his body is obviouisly not ready yet.  Could playing 82 games next year hurt his long term health??  If you look at bigs and how long they stayed in college I wonder if there is an effect on health.  Bynum and Davis had health problems early.  Where you look at a guy like Tim Duncan who stayed all 4 years and has had impecable health.  Although that is an extremely small sample size it will be interesting to see if there is an effect on the health over the 82 game season or 40 for young bigs who have not yet developed an NBA ready body.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Right now, he is a "top 3 pick guaranteed".  But, more than that he is "the next Olajuwon".  When you are
"the next Olajuwon" you can only go down.

He should go pro.

Wiggins and Parker didn’t help themselves.  Julius Randle is making a run at things, but sometimes you have to go with a 7 footer over a 6’9ish power forward. 

It’s lining up for Embiid to be a top 2 pick GUARANTEED, even with the back problems. 

Next year is a new year.

Ok, he could get better in college, but I didn’t know that Bill Self was a big man coach.  Unless Kansas hires Hakeem or Patrick Ewing or Kareem to help out with Embiid, what is Embiid going to learn?  Go on YouTube and watch clips like everyone else? 

I think that Parker and Wiggins should go pro because they basically got EXPOSED.  Parker is a tweener almost, questions about defense persist, and he looks more like a volume scorer than a pure shooter like a Kevin Durant or Dirk.  Parker is an volume scorer, with range, and he can get hot BUT he isn’t money from 3 (college 3).  Parker didn’t have many assists, and maybe he doesn’t make his teammates better.

Wiggins drifts in and out.  He might lack some fundamentals and might be more like Rudy Gay in terms of motor, aggressiveness, and basketball IQ than a Scottie Pippen.  If he comes back and doesn’t improve then he might not be a lock for a "top 3" pick.  He is in discussion for the number one pick.  That might not happen next year if some of these guys come back and if next year’s big men like Okafor do really well.

I also think that Wiggins has ideal size and length to play the 2 guard spot as a bigger shooting guard in the Kobe Bryant mold.  Just long, wiry, good quickness, great hops, and finesse, BUT I he doesn’t have that freakish Size/Strength/Athleticism combination of LeBron James or the 6’10ish height, uncanny length of Kevin Durant.  He is closer to Paul George in size with PG probably being bigger/taller.  Wiggins would also be smaller than Rudy Gay.  I would rather see Wiggins matched up with 6’4/6’5 shooting guards like D Wade and James Harden than with 6’9 (or taller) freaks like LeBron, Durant, Paul George, Rudy Gay, and even a slightly bigger, stronger guy like Carmelo Anthony.  Other small forwards would give Wiggins problems too.  Wiggins might be taller than Paul Pierce but Pierce is stronger, savvier, and more fundamentally sound.  I would bet that Kawhi Leonard is longer and stronger with a better motor.  Iggy is bigger and stronger with probably the same length/height. 

Joel Embiid is the guy with legit height and length for the 5.  Yeah, he could get stronger but maybe he shouldn’t put a ton of weight on given his back situation.  He might need to stay fairly slimmed down like an Hakeem or Ralph Sampson than being a bigger center like Shaq.  If Embiid comes back he will probably be the same guy physically that he was this year.  If he comes back he might lose some of that mystique that makes him such an intriguing prospect. 

Too much can go wrong for Embiid.  He’s a top 3 lock.  Why pass that up?

[tuck243Participant]

 Especially the Rudy Gay assertiveness…  

[tuck243Participant]

 Especially the Rudy Gay assertiveness…  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Right now, he is a "top 3 pick guaranteed".  But, more than that he is "the next Olajuwon".  When you are
"the next Olajuwon" you can only go down.

He should go pro.

Wiggins and Parker didn’t help themselves.  Julius Randle is making a run at things, but sometimes you have to go with a 7 footer over a 6’9ish power forward. 

It’s lining up for Embiid to be a top 2 pick GUARANTEED, even with the back problems. 

Next year is a new year.

Ok, he could get better in college, but I didn’t know that Bill Self was a big man coach.  Unless Kansas hires Hakeem or Patrick Ewing or Kareem to help out with Embiid, what is Embiid going to learn?  Go on YouTube and watch clips like everyone else? 

I think that Parker and Wiggins should go pro because they basically got EXPOSED.  Parker is a tweener almost, questions about defense persist, and he looks more like a volume scorer than a pure shooter like a Kevin Durant or Dirk.  Parker is an volume scorer, with range, and he can get hot BUT he isn’t money from 3 (college 3).  Parker didn’t have many assists, and maybe he doesn’t make his teammates better.

Wiggins drifts in and out.  He might lack some fundamentals and might be more like Rudy Gay in terms of motor, aggressiveness, and basketball IQ than a Scottie Pippen.  If he comes back and doesn’t improve then he might not be a lock for a "top 3" pick.  He is in discussion for the number one pick.  That might not happen next year if some of these guys come back and if next year’s big men like Okafor do really well.

I also think that Wiggins has ideal size and length to play the 2 guard spot as a bigger shooting guard in the Kobe Bryant mold.  Just long, wiry, good quickness, great hops, and finesse, BUT I he doesn’t have that freakish Size/Strength/Athleticism combination of LeBron James or the 6’10ish height, uncanny length of Kevin Durant.  He is closer to Paul George in size with PG probably being bigger/taller.  Wiggins would also be smaller than Rudy Gay.  I would rather see Wiggins matched up with 6’4/6’5 shooting guards like D Wade and James Harden than with 6’9 (or taller) freaks like LeBron, Durant, Paul George, Rudy Gay, and even a slightly bigger, stronger guy like Carmelo Anthony.  Other small forwards would give Wiggins problems too.  Wiggins might be taller than Paul Pierce but Pierce is stronger, savvier, and more fundamentally sound.  I would bet that Kawhi Leonard is longer and stronger with a better motor.  Iggy is bigger and stronger with probably the same length/height. 

Joel Embiid is the guy with legit height and length for the 5.  Yeah, he could get stronger but maybe he shouldn’t put a ton of weight on given his back situation.  He might need to stay fairly slimmed down like an Hakeem or Ralph Sampson than being a bigger center like Shaq.  If Embiid comes back he will probably be the same guy physically that he was this year.  If he comes back he might lose some of that mystique that makes him such an intriguing prospect. 

Too much can go wrong for Embiid.  He’s a top 3 lock.  Why pass that up?

[MopgrassParticipant]

 Embiid will need to pack on pounds. He’s already 240, but got out muscled in several games. The really strong guys in college made him much less of a presence. He might need 20-30 pounds and to start really fighting for rebounds.

[JoeWolf1]

I agree. I think in part, that is because he isn’t completely matured. A 22 year old can rip the ball out of his hands, and Joel has great finesse, but he doesn’t have that dunk on you strength yet.

It’s actually pretty scary to think what he’ll be like when he hits the weights a little more and his body matures. He’s pretty big naturally, but his strength is still coming along. He could play at 270 as a 23 year old, I think.

[JoeWolf1]

I agree. I think in part, that is because he isn’t completely matured. A 22 year old can rip the ball out of his hands, and Joel has great finesse, but he doesn’t have that dunk on you strength yet.

It’s actually pretty scary to think what he’ll be like when he hits the weights a little more and his body matures. He’s pretty big naturally, but his strength is still coming along. He could play at 270 as a 23 year old, I think.

[MopgrassParticipant]

 Embiid will need to pack on pounds. He’s already 240, but got out muscled in several games. The really strong guys in college made him much less of a presence. He might need 20-30 pounds and to start really fighting for rebounds.

[XYRYXParticipant]

 I could live with both decisions to leave or to move on. 

It might be true in his case that he might benefit from getting acclimated to the society, food, training and cluture over there. 

On the other hand it is obvious, that he is just incredibly gifted. His natural feel for how to move and coordinate this young and long body is hard to top and one thing many people forget about when we talk about players who learned the game late is often undiscussed. 

If you start late, as many center prospects did until it was clear they should explore basketball with unusual height, you just don’t have many bad habits. Look at how good MKG would be if he hadn’t fell in love with his ugly double clutch shot? I know center prospects are different and true shooting is not as important as the back to the basket and defensive skills but if a player is willing to trust and learn from good coaching the ceiling might even be higher. I think I read that the great Olajuwon once said he couldn’t hit a barn door with his left hand but look at how he mastered his movement and instincts to an insane level. 

Like I said before, the draft position isn’t important and I’m still convinced not all players really look at the draft position from a financial view. You still get a ton of money anyhow even if you’re a late first or 2nd rounder. What matters most is the situation you come to. Is there a good chemistry? What are the expectations? Is there competition at your position? Is there veteran leadership? How do the coaches like your game or how can they help you getting better?

[XYRYXParticipant]

 I could live with both decisions to leave or to move on. 

It might be true in his case that he might benefit from getting acclimated to the society, food, training and cluture over there. 

On the other hand it is obvious, that he is just incredibly gifted. His natural feel for how to move and coordinate this young and long body is hard to top and one thing many people forget about when we talk about players who learned the game late is often undiscussed. 

If you start late, as many center prospects did until it was clear they should explore basketball with unusual height, you just don’t have many bad habits. Look at how good MKG would be if he hadn’t fell in love with his ugly double clutch shot? I know center prospects are different and true shooting is not as important as the back to the basket and defensive skills but if a player is willing to trust and learn from good coaching the ceiling might even be higher. I think I read that the great Olajuwon once said he couldn’t hit a barn door with his left hand but look at how he mastered his movement and instincts to an insane level. 

Like I said before, the draft position isn’t important and I’m still convinced not all players really look at the draft position from a financial view. You still get a ton of money anyhow even if you’re a late first or 2nd rounder. What matters most is the situation you come to. Is there a good chemistry? What are the expectations? Is there competition at your position? Is there veteran leadership? How do the coaches like your game or how can they help you getting better?

[tbest23Participant]

The big fella has constantly mentioned how Hakeem, Duncan, Robinson, et al all played more than a year in school and did just fine. Combine that with his family being financially stable and the fact he mentioned he can’t even drive a car yet and I think he might be leaning towards one more year. He tweeted at KU’s senior night that he couldn’t wait for his senior night… but that had to have been a joke. I really think he’ll listen most to Moute as he’s in the league and "discovered" him. Either way, I think he’ll be fine. My gut feeling says he’s back @ KU next year. 

[tbest23Participant]

The big fella has constantly mentioned how Hakeem, Duncan, Robinson, et al all played more than a year in school and did just fine. Combine that with his family being financially stable and the fact he mentioned he can’t even drive a car yet and I think he might be leaning towards one more year. He tweeted at KU’s senior night that he couldn’t wait for his senior night… but that had to have been a joke. I really think he’ll listen most to Moute as he’s in the league and "discovered" him. Either way, I think he’ll be fine. My gut feeling says he’s back @ KU next year. 

[tbest23Participant]

The big fella has constantly mentioned how Hakeem, Duncan, Robinson, et al all played more than a year in school and did just fine. Combine that with his family being financially stable and the fact he mentioned he can’t even drive a car yet and I think he might be leaning towards one more year. He tweeted at KU’s senior night that he couldn’t wait for his senior night… but that had to have been a joke. I really think he’ll listen most to Moute as he’s in the league and "discovered" him. Either way, I think he’ll be fine. My gut feeling says he’s back @ KU next year. 

[tbest23Participant]

The big fella has constantly mentioned how Hakeem, Duncan, Robinson, et al all played more than a year in school and did just fine. Combine that with his family being financially stable and the fact he mentioned he can’t even drive a car yet and I think he might be leaning towards one more year. He tweeted at KU’s senior night that he couldn’t wait for his senior night… but that had to have been a joke. I really think he’ll listen most to Moute as he’s in the league and "discovered" him. Either way, I think he’ll be fine. My gut feeling says he’s back @ KU next year. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

What if all the guys came back?  That would be GREAT for college basketball but bad for Philly fans.  I would laugh though if Doug McDermott were the top pick.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

What if all the guys came back?  That would be GREAT for college basketball but bad for Philly fans.  I would laugh though if Doug McDermott were the top pick.

[Rip255]

Embiid isn’t any more of a lock for top 3 than Nerlens Noel was with these back issues. Exum, Randle, Wiggins, Parker, Vonleh, Smart could all go ahead of Embiid. 

The previous poster who said he’s going to average 17/11/4 as a rookie (and remarkably got +6 for that post) is absolutely dreaming. When was the last time a freshman big averaged those numbers? (4 blocks! lol). Dikembe Mutumbo did it twice in his whole career, and that was before defensive 3 second violation. 

Embiid is going to struggle mightily in his rookie season, like all rookies do. A more realistic projection is what Greg Oden or Dwight Howard managed in their rookie year. 26 mpg, 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and a LOT of fouls. 

[JoeWolf1]

"I have no doubt if he came back, he’d be an absolute game changer next season, probably around 17/11/4"

IF HE CAME BACK, back to college. He can’t go back to the NBA because he’s never been there. 17/11/4 was my estimation of what he’d do as a sophomore in college.

 

[JoeWolf1]

"I have no doubt if he came back, he’d be an absolute game changer next season, probably around 17/11/4"

IF HE CAME BACK, back to college. He can’t go back to the NBA because he’s never been there. 17/11/4 was my estimation of what he’d do as a sophomore in college.

 

[Rip255]

Embiid isn’t any more of a lock for top 3 than Nerlens Noel was with these back issues. Exum, Randle, Wiggins, Parker, Vonleh, Smart could all go ahead of Embiid. 

The previous poster who said he’s going to average 17/11/4 as a rookie (and remarkably got +6 for that post) is absolutely dreaming. When was the last time a freshman big averaged those numbers? (4 blocks! lol). Dikembe Mutumbo did it twice in his whole career, and that was before defensive 3 second violation. 

Embiid is going to struggle mightily in his rookie season, like all rookies do. A more realistic projection is what Greg Oden or Dwight Howard managed in their rookie year. 26 mpg, 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and a LOT of fouls. 

[Author]

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