Yes, Embiid is a risk, but he is also the best NBA prospect in the draft and could be a true superstar in the NBA if healthy. While the foot injury coming so recently after the back injury are concerning, neither should be a career altering injury if healed properly. On the court, Embiid has the potential to be a 20 point, 10 rebound, perennial DPOY candidate in time. He may have to sit out the whole year, but the 76ers aren't going to challenge for anything anyways, best to get him fully healthy and handled by a professional medical staff for a year. Many analysts have been critical of the Sixers plan to be terrible for another year at least, but it makes much more sense than overvaluing your young players, trying to add veterans, and then being mediocre. If Philadelphia really wants to win a title, not just be an okay team that does nothing meaningful in the playoffs, they need more talent than this draft could provide. Will fans be annoyed at the awful basketball for at least another year? Probably, but they'll be packing the place in a few years if the Sixers become the new Thunder instead of the new Hawks or Cavs.
12. Dario Saric, F Croatia (6-10, 223)
Saric also fits into Philadephia's plan to stink for a while longer because he is unlikely to come to the NBA this year or even next, but when the plan begins to come together he should be ready to come over and even more developed than he is, as one of the best young players in Europe. Saric is an attacking forward with incredible court vision and basketball IQ. He still needs to become a better shooter, though he has improved in that area. On talent he deserved to be in the top 10, only his contract situation Europe caused him to drop some.
32. K.J. McDaniels, SF Clemson Jr. (6-6, 196)
The 76ers love to play at a very fast pace offensively and with a hectic, gambling style on defense so taking a top athlete with great range, leaping ability, and defensive instincts makes a lot of sense. McDaniels can cover a lot of ground (and air) defensively and he makes a ton of plays on that end, averaging 1.1 steals and 2.8 blocks(!) per game in his last college season. He is a streaky shooter but is awesome in transition and can score attacking the rim as well.
39. Jerami Grant, F Syracuse So. (6-8, 214)
Grant is very similar to McDaniels, and both are first round talents who fell because some questionable talents were pushed up ahead of them. Grant has long arms (7-3 wingspan) and is very explosive and mobile. He projects defensively at either forward position, but it is his offense that will likely determine where he ends up playing. Grant has shown promise as a shooter and can attack the rim, but isn't a huge threat in any area yet on that end. Where he'll thrive is on defense and the glass, where his physical gifts should help him have an impact, much like McDaniels.
52. Vasilije Micic, PG Croatia (6-6, 202)
Another international player with legitimate talent who may not see the NBA for a year or two. Micic has great size and is an excellent ball-handler and passer. He isn't much of a scoring threat and will likely struggle defensively, though his size will help. Though Michael Carter-Williams is seemingly intrenched as the starting point for the foreseeable future, Micic projects a perfect backup down the line because of his ability to run an offense and be a distributor while backup minutes will mitigate his defensive liability.
54. Nemanja Dangubic, SG Yugoslavia (6-8, 193)
Dangubic had a great Euro Camp to get on NBA radars and though he probably won't ever play in the NBA and is already 21, there is some intruiging talent here and a chance everything goes well and he become NBA quality. That is really the value of second round picks, it gives you a lottery ticket with no risk whatsoever. Any second round pick that hits immediately becomes an incredibly inexpensive contributor.
58. Jordan McRae, SG Tennessee Sr. (6-5, 179)
Another long athlete, Jordan McRae didn't really breakout until his Senior season, when he finally started to find some consistency with his jumper. He could always get to the basket but the improvement of his shooting led to his best season as a collegian. McRae has a good chance to make Philadelphia's rebuilding team and could even develop into a Quincy Pondexter-type contributor if his jumpshot continues to develop.
Current Lineup
PG: Michael Carter-Williams/Tony Wroten Jr.
SG: James Anderson/Jason Richardson/Jordan McRae
SF: K.J. McDaniels/Hollis Thompson
PF: Thaddeus Young/Jerami Grant
