The NBA 2014 Draft is clearer now with the lottery, but whoever is lucky to win will pick Joel Embiid. Despite all the injury and raw talent discussions, team executives really want to take him!

A 7 foot center who has the athletic ability and motor skills are lacking polish-but that's the one thing any good team can definitely do.

Setting aside the injury issue, the bold claim that could shape the draft was given by Bill Simmons of Grantland:

"By the way, Embiid's back is fine. I watched him work out last week."

Because of that: "As I said on TV before the lottery, Embiid was always going first. None of these teams was passing on him. Repeat: none of them. The amount of smokescreening going on in April and May was high comedy. We keep hearing his back is really screwed up, this could be another Oden situation ... Just stop it." 

Simmons gave the definitive declaration: "The truth is, Wiggins and Parker never separated themselves enough this season to warrant anyone saying, 'We're passing on a potential franchise center with a good chance of becoming the 7-foot Serge Ibaka.'"

Grantland also talked to some scouts:

Scout 1: "If healthy, I'm taking him no. 1 and it's not even close.

This is how it works: We use tiers. There could be five guys in a tier, it doesn't matter what order. Some would have the first five guys in a tier (Embiid, Parker, Wiggins, Randle, and Exum). Say Vonleh and Gordon are in the second tier.

My top tier is Embiid, by himself."

Some feedback on one of his workouts: "He played with a little chipiness. Some of it was immaturity, but some of it was good, which shows he is competitive. Depending on how it falls with the decision-makers, Milwaukee is the kind of team that will feel pressured to take Parker over Embiid, because of the health risks, but who knows now with new ownership."

Just what can he bring to the team that drafts him: "He catches in the post, cross-court passes to an open shooter, and is comfortable catching on the roll off a screen. His feet and timing on jumps are special; defensively he will anchor a team. In a league that is going smaller and smaller, a big that can move like he can is an advantage every night."

The idea on him being raw: You can buy a beat up and ragged Corvette, give it a tune up and polish it-it will be an awesome ride. You can get a tuned up and polished Prius, you don't need to do anything with it-but it will always be a Prius.

If Embiid's injury is serious, then the ghosts of Greg Oden and Sam Bowie will haunt the team that drafts them. But if it's not, you have the chance to have your Olajuwon or Shaquille. That's just too much too resist.