The Milwaukee Bucks have ruled out selecting injured Kansas big man Joel Embiid with the team's No. 2 overall pick in this week's NBA draft.
Embiid was thought to be in play for the top overall selection before injuring his right foot earlier this month and undergoing surgery that is expected to keep him out of action for anywhere from four to six months. The Cleveland Cavaliers are now expected to pick between Duke's Jabari Parker and Embiid's Jayhawks teammate Andrew Wiggins with the No. 1 pick.
Owner indicates Bucks will not draft Joel Embiid https://t.co/qdzL8Y2RJs
— Tom Ziller (@teamziller) June 23, 2014
"It's hard to take Embiid," Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "We want somebody who is going to be able to help us on Day 1. Our decision got a lot easier, mainly because Embiid got hurt."
The struggling Bucks won just 15 games this season, finishing with the league's worst record at 15-67. Before suffering his injury, 7-feet, 250 pound Embiid was drawing comparisons to a young Hakeem Olajuwon largely based on defensive prowess and was thought to be a good pairing with rugged, veteran forward Larry Sanders.
Joel Embiid's health a concern?
Parker and Wiggins are now expected to headline a star-studded draft that will also include Aaron Gordon, Dante Exum, Julius Randle, Marcus Smart and Tyler Ennis.
The 20-year-old Embiid was the only collegiate player ths year to average at least 19 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks per 40 minutes.
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