The suspense of this season’s MVP has not yet been announced, but the league has announced in advance the three players shortlisted for the final selection of MVP, namely Jokic of the Nuggets, Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, and Embiid of the 76ers.
In the regular season, Embiid averaged 30.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He is the absolute core of Philadelphia. For most of the season before Harden joined, Embiid led the team with a single core and played well. Therefore, it is a matter of course to enter the final MVP selection.
Many fans should remember that Embiid, who performed so well, was not the first pick in the 2014 draft, but the third rookie in the first round. The No. 1 pick that year was Wiggins, who averaged 17.1 points per game this season, which has long been left behind by Embiid. The No. 2 pick Jabari Parker is basically in a state of no ball to play after being mixed with many teams.
Let’s talk about Parker first, he is 2.01 meters tall and is a small forward. The Bucks already had Antetokounmpo at that time, and Antetokounmpo averaged 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in the 14-15 season, and gradually began to show superstar talent. The Bucks really had no energy, and there was no need to train another big man. So it’s better to pick a small forward.
And Wiggins was the No. 1 pick that year because of his physical talent! Since the NBA rookie physical test cannot test the mental attributes of players, no one knows that Wiggins is a healthy basketball player, otherwise no one should choose him in the top three, right?
In fact, when the Cavaliers selected the No. 1 overall pick, they hesitated for a long time between Wiggins and Embiid. At that time, the Cavaliers needed a big man to form a twin star with Irving, but Embiid’s knee had a big problem, which caused many teams to dare not choose him. In fact, although Embiid was a rookie in 2014, he was not until In the 16-17 season, he officially started playing.
There is another important reason. In the 14-15 season, James returned to the Cavaliers. He named Kevin Love, so the Cavaliers reached an agreement with the Timberwolves. The Cavaliers sent Wiggins, Bennett, Thaddeus Young, Get Kevin Love. The triumvirate of James, Owen, and Love has also been officially formed.
If it weren’t for the return of James, the Cavaliers would likely choose Embiid! Because Irving was already a 3-time All-Star at that time, and could contribute 21+5+3 data per game, the Cavaliers really did not need to choose a perimeter to compete with Irving for the ball. The No. 4 rookie in 2012, Dion Waiters, was decisively sent to the Thunder by the Cavaliers because of a conflict with Irving for players. Why bother to find another rookie who can grab the ball with Irving?
In the final analysis, James is too anxious! He hopes that in the first season after his return, the Cavaliers will have championship competitiveness, so there is an urgent need for a mature insider like Love, who can defend and position at the basket, and can shoot three-pointers from the outside to open up space . In order to form the Big Three, the Cavaliers also sent many young players and draft picks.
Now imagine that if James wasn’t in such a hurry at the time, the Cavaliers would have had the Big Three of James, Embiid, and Irving. A veteran, with two young men inside and one outside, does it look like the current configuration of the Suns? Paul brought Booker and Ayton to the finals in the first year. If James can bring Irving and Embiid, will the efficiency be higher?
Be bolder. If these three stars stay with the Cavaliers and work together to fight together, would the Cleveland Cavaliers have already forged a dynasty by now? When James led the Cavaliers to the playoffs in a row, if he replaced Love with Embiid, would he have won two less overall runners-up?
If there is no competitive sports, James’ “urgency” back then is justifiable. After all, it takes too much time to accompany rookies to level up. If you want to form a championship team in the shortest time, the best way is to trade players.
Fans and friends, do you think Embiid will be the No. 1 pick if the 2014 draft is rearranged?