Presto in the Paint 5-on-5: NBA Draft

Feb 4, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid (21) warms up before the game against the Baylor Bears at the Ferrell Center. The Jayhawks defeated the Bears 69-52. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

1. With the recent news that Joel Embiid will require foot surgery, should the Magic even consider him if he’s available at four? Or should they just pass on him without questions?

Zach Oliver (@ZachOliverNBA): I think they should consider him, yes; however, I think they’d end up passing on him. They have Nikola Vucevic already so the fit with Embiid is somewhat murky. It’s also worth noting that general manager Rob Hennigan has shown a willingness to pass on players who come into the draft with injuries. (See: Perry Jones III, Jared Sullinger and Nerlens Noel). Also, big men with foot or leg injuries scare me in general.

Quentin Haynes (@Haynesenberg): Zach hit the nail on the head, but I would take it one step further: I would take him if he fell to the fourth pick. The Magic have this young core of talent, but none of them project as future All-Stars. It’s tough to bank your fourth overall pick on someone with back and knee issues (especially a big man), but Embiid, if all goes right projects to be a rim protector and solid offensive player. Even if he offers you a career similar to Andrew Bogut, I’d go for it.

Zac Cleary (@zac_cleary): Ehhh…I would consider him, but it would only be a passing glance. I wouldn’t actually take him. It’s really unfortunate that it happened to Embiid and I think some team will get a steal in him, but I don’t think the Magic are that team. If Dante Exum is there, you take Exum if you’re the Magic. If Marcus Smart is there, you take Smart. Stick to your draft board and your plan. If the foot injury is serious, you lose out on a great prospect in a loaded draft. It’s a high reward, yes, but I think it’s a bigger risk.

Zach Palmer (@FmrTankCommandr): Going off the assumption that Exum, Wiggins, and Parker all go in the top three Orlando should definitely take Embiid. As Quentin pointed out earlier Orlando doesn’t have a franchise centerpiece right now. In my eyes Embiid is the last guy left at that point who offers that kind of potential. With all that said I definitely think you could see Rob Hennigan trying to trade out of that spot.

Jake Smith (@ORLMagicStuff): Consider him? Probably. But take him? I just don’t think that they can or will at this junction in the rebuild. There’s no doubt that Embiid is one of the most if not the most talented player in this draft class, but major back and foot problems at his young age are quite concerning. As the Bow Tie Killa said, the Magic haven’t touched injury-prone big men with a ten-foot pole under the Rob Hennigan regime, so I wouldn’t expect them to buck that trend with their most important draft pick in the rebuild.