The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly plan to select center Joel Embiid with the first overall pick of the 2014 NBA draft. Embiid's pre-draft workout impressed Cleveland so much that the team feels the 7-footer is a better choice than Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker, according to at least two reports.
Concerns about Embiid's back injury appear to be subsiding, leading to the likelihood of the Cameroon native going No. 1 to the Cavaliers.
"Embiid's workout and interview in Cleveland last week were major successes, according to sources close to the Cavs," ESPN's Chad Ford wrote on Tuesday. "Embiid did a full workout there in front of the Cavs' front office and owner Dan Gilbert. Multiple sources said that the team was blown away with the workout. Embiid even ended one session by launching and nailing a series of 3s.
"Directly after the workout, two different sources told me that Embiid was the strong favorite to be drafted by the Cavs. Even Gilbert was on board."
Ford added that a report of the Cavs finding multiple red flags with Embiid was "strongly disputed" by his sources.
Embiid, who's been called a 7-foot Serge Ibaka in terms of his athleticism, was also reported by MSF's Ryan Phillips as the Cavaliers' likely No. 1 pick.
"ESPN's Chad Ford confirmed what I've been hearing for a while: that Embiid has been Cleveland's favorite throughout the process, but the team needed to clear him medically," Phillips wrote on Tuesday. "His back has been thoroughly checked out and he received a clean bill of health from team doctors last week, so that doesn't appear to be an issue."
Embiid, though, isn't a lock for the No. 1 selection. Wiggins and Parker are Embiid's biggest competition for the top pick of the draft, and Cleveland reportedly is also considering trading the pick.
The NBA draft is on Thursday, June 26.
