The Philadelphia 76ers drafted an injured Joel Embiid with the third overall pick in 2014. The Sixers had then waited for two years before Embiid was cleared to play. However, recent reports suggest that in the same year Embiid was drafted, the Boston Celtics tried to obtain him by offering to trade their sixth and 17th picks for the 76ers' third pick as they wanted to draft Embiid.
Embiid has been playing well for the Sixers in his first NBA season. Although the Sixers are currently 0-5, Embiid is averaging an impressive 18.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 3.0 blocks per game.
According to Sportsrageous, Embiid could have been drafted first overall in the 2014 NBA Draft if not for the foot injury he suffered days before the draft. Instead, he was drafted third overall by the Sixers, which waited a couple of season before Embiid was fit to play for them.
In a podcast by The Ringer's Bill Simmons, he stated that Embiid nearly went to the Celtics. The Celtics' general manager, Danny Ainge reportedly attempted to trade up for Embiid in 2014, but the Sixers decided to take the risk and drafted an injured Embiid instead.
#Celtics Reportedly Tried To Trade For Joel Embiid During 2014 NBA Draft (via @CelticsHub) https://t.co/yOKX5s5rVi
— 98.5 The Sports Hub (@985TheSportsHub) November 5, 2016
Simmons then pointed out that Embiid is undoubtedly talented because of how he got picked third overall despite his injury in addition to the Celtics' attempt to get him. The Celtics ended up drafting Marcus Smart as the sixth pick.
A report by CBS Local states that Ainge did not confirm the rumors of talks he engaged in with the Sixers in 2014, but insisted that Embiid was something special. He further expressed that had Embiid fallen in the draft board, the Celtics would have picked Embiid sixth overall.
If Embiid ended up with the Celtics, he would currently be playing center alongside Al Horford in the power forward. Do you think he would have been a perfect fit for the Celtics?
