If Embiid didn’t get hurt he had leapfrogged both Wiggins and Jabari.
Wiggins was the consensus top pick prior to the season but Embiid quickly surpassed him.
True. But Wiggins was the most hyped high school player since Bron (at the time). So we were gearing up to have another classic "Should you take the skilled big man over the potential once in a lifetime wing?
" debate at the top of the draft. Embiid being hurt made it easy for Minnesota and people thought Embiid was going to be another Oden type risk. People gave Hinkie a lot of shyt for that pick.
Folks were overanalyzing Joel's injury recovery for his first couple years. It wasn't until recently where people don't mention it any more. And obviously Embiid was the better pick.
I say all that to say, this draft shyt is a gamble no matter what.