‘Hello Philly!!!!' Sixers draft Joel Embiid

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After months of intrigue, innuendo and deafening silence, the Sixers finally revealed a glimmer of light into their future Thursday night.
 
With the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft, the Sixers selected Joel Embiid (see bio), a seven-foot center from Cameroon, who played for Kansas last season (and he was happy to be drafted by them). Scouts regard Embiid as the most gifted player in the NBA draft. Though he only began playing basketball in high school where he was discovered by former NBA player and UCLA star, Luc Mbah a Moute, Embiid has drawn comparisons to Hakeem Olajuwon.
 
Embiid did not attend the draft in New York City after undergoing surgery for his broken foot last week.

"I wish I could be there," Embiid said during the draft broadcast. "But I'm excited the Sixers took me. I still can't believe it. I started playing basketball so late, it just means that anything is possible.” 

However, can Embiid’s body hold up against the rigors of an NBA season?
 
 "Joel is a rare seven-foot talent with remarkable gifts and a defensive mindset," general manager Sam Hinkie said in a statement released by the team. "We plan to work in lockstep with Joel to manage his rehabilitation and give him every opportunity to have a long and productive NBA career."
 
Last year Embiid appeared in just 28 games and missed the end of the season because of a stress fracture in his back. Though he has recovered from that injury, he suffered a stress fracture in his foot last week during a workout and likely will miss four to six months recovering from surgery.

"For my back injury, it hurt me," Embiid said. "But I saw the doctors and they said I was going to be fine. And unfortunately this foot injury happened a week before the draft.”

Will Embiid play in 2014-15? He says he will when he recovers and goes through a rehab process. However, after holding out last year's No. 6 pick Nerlens Noel for an entire season as he recovered from ACL surgery, the Sixers could be in the same position with Embiid. Will they hold out another lottery pick for a second straight season? Are the Sixers prepared to be in the hunt for the top draft pick for a second straight year?
 
Regardless, the Sixers with general manager Sam Hinkie are sticking to their plan and taking the long term approach to the rebuild. With Embiid, it's tough to pass on a player compared to Olajuwon and Duncan even though he also has been said to have Sam Bowie's knees and Bill Walton's feet.
 
CSNPhilly.com reported Tuesday that the Sixers had received Embiid’s medical reports and clearly haven’t been scared off.
 
The Sixers are on the board with the No. 10 overall pick, but have been rumored to be looking to add another lottery pick. The Sixers also have five second-round picks, including the No. 32 and No. 39 overall picks.

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