NEW YORK – It's just hours before the 2014 NBA draft and how things will unfold at the Barclays Center is still a guessing game.
Wednesday afternoon, 20 draft prospects gathered at the Westin Hotel near Times Square in Manhattan to speak with members of the media.
Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Dante Exum drew the biggest crowds with all three players expected to be top selections.
Wiggins currently is leading the race, though multiple tweets late Wednesday afternoon said the Cavaliers, who have the No. 1 pick, wanted to send a private jet for Exum so he could work out in Cleveland prior to the draft (see story).
Cleveland is the only team holding a top-four pick that the 18-year-old Australian has not granted a workout.
Exum’s workout in Philadelphia last weekend involved playing two-on-two, though Exum did not recall who the other three players were.
“It was definitely a hard workout,” Exum said. “It was a lot of up and down. It was good for me to get out on the court and show them a bit of what I can do and how I react to certain situations.”
NBA
Since Sixers head coach Brett Brown coached in the National Basketball League in Australia for 14 years and he has a connection with the Exum family, many believe the two are a match.
Exum insists anything can happen draft night.
“He (Brown) says he loves my game,” Exum said. “He said he would love to have me, but he also has to look at some of the other players that are in the draft as well.”
Playing point guard is Exum’s natural position. However, the young talent would welcome an opportunity to play alongside current Sixers point guard and Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams.
“I would not have worked out with them if I didn’t think it was a good idea,” Exum said. “I am willing to go into the situation where we can work together. I think that is how you get wins, being able to cooperate as a team.”
Unlike Exum, Kansas sensation Andrew Wiggins worked out by himself for the Sixers. The same can be said for Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State and Julius Randle of Kentucky.
“It was an amazing workout,” Smart said of his experience at PCOM. “I did pretty well, especially because they had me going full court by myself. I stuck with it and I was in good shape, so that helped me. It went well.”
Like Wiggins, Smart went to dinner alone with team president Sam Hinkie. He left impressed.
“He is real down to earth,” Smart said. “You can tell he cares about his guys, not just him, the whole coaching staff. They care about teaching and helping you learn things. They wanted to get you ready to play in the NBA. That is what you want in a coaching staff.”
Duke’s Jabari Parker did not make a trip to the City of Brotherly Love, but that could change.
“I might take a subway tonight to go see them,” Parker joked.
Parker did not specify if he chose not to workout individually or the Sixers did not invite him.
He was not the only player on hand Wednesday whom the Sixers did not put through an individual session.
Michigan sharpshooter Nik Stauskas and Arizona forward Aaron Gordon confirmed they did not work out for the Sixers. Both players could be available when the Sixers pick at No. 10.
Joel Embiid, projected to be on the board when the Sixers pick No. 3, was not in New York. He underwent surgery for a stress fracture in his right foot last Friday and remains in Southern California.
Parker considers Embiid a very good friend and talked about the 7-footer’s optimism despite his recent setback.
“He is a very good friend of mine and we will be here representing him too,” Parker said. “I told him I am representing you because you didn’t get the chance to come here.
“His spirits are really high. Everyone knows Joel is a very good kid and he is optimistic and very positive.”
Parker insisted Embiid’s injury does not impact his draft status. He has believed all along he will go to Milwaukee at No. 2.