NBA Rumors: Latest on Joel Embiid and Other Info Around the League
Philadelphia 76ers fans can only hope they will one day get a chance to see talented young center Joel Embiid play for their team. That apparently won't be happening in the 2015-16 season as Sixers Nation had hoped.
Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News reported that two sources say Embiid re-broke the navicular bone in his foot and needs surgery to repair the injury.
It had been previously reported that Embiid would miss all of next season, but Cooney's report offered the details. With this news, it makes the 76ers' selection of Duke Blue Devils star Jahlil Okafor a little more understandable. Okafor and Nerlens Noel figure to form a talented, young and balanced frontcourt for Philly.
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If the 76ers can ever get Embiid on the court, they will have an interesting problem on their hands with three very talented big men. With Embiid's rough injury history, that concept doesn't seem very tangible.
Mudiay Glad Knicks Didn't Draft Him
Every player wants to play in New York, right? That's apparently not the case. Denver Nuggets rookie Emmanuel Mudiay was reportedly relieved the Knicks passed on him with the fourth pick in the 2015 NBA draft, per Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Mudiay was selected seventh by the Denver Nuggets.
Per Berman, Mudiay was unsure how his game would fit into the triangle offense the team employs at the behest of team president Phil Jackson.
Mudiay is the type of player who needs the ball in his hands a ton to be effective. He apparently wants to have more freedom in the offense than he believes the Knicks system will provide. Per Berman, who was quoting sources, Mudiay said "he felt he was a better match in a more freewheeling Denver offense."
There's no questioning Mudiay's talent, but perhaps the Knicks anticipated some issues with the 19-year-old accepting their system, and that's why they passed on him.
Cavs Cool on Kaun
The Cleveland Cavaliers roster is just about set, but there's a chance the team could add an old favorite from head coach David Blatt's days with the 2012 Russian national basketball team.
Sasha Kaun is eyeing an opportunity to rejoin his former coach with the Cavs. The team and player had dinner this week, but according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, the Cavs aren't in a hurry to bring the 30-year-old to America.
The Cavs own his rights and appear to have all of the leverage in any negotiations. Kaun has said he's done playing in Europe, per Vardon, so it's just a matter of the Cavs feeling the sense of urgency to sign him.
Cleveland still has to either bring back J.R. Smith or go another direction at shooting guard. The team also has to finalize a deal with power forward Tristan Thompson.
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