1. Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is a monster on the basketball court. ‘Nuff said.
If Anthony Davis can’t be considered a true center, then Embiid is the best one in the game today. He’s like a hybrid of Hakeem Olajuwon and Moses Malone, as he’s a huge widebody center with outstanding low post skills, but also has some guard skills that he uses to get himself into prime post position after catching the ball on the perimeter.
He has killed the Lakers these last two years. In the team’s last four meetings against the Sixers, Embiid has scored 46, 33, 28 and 37 points.
Luckily, the Lakers have more help in the pivot now with the additions of Davis and Dwight Howard.
Still, Embiid is a big load to deal with for anyone to deal with. He’s among the league leaders in free throw attempts, and unlike most big men, he’s a very good free-throw shooter. Not only that, but by drawing fouls on the Lakers, he can give other Sixers players the opportunity to shoot free throws by virtue of getting the entire Lakers team into the penalty.
I haven’t even mentioned Embiid’s excellence as a rebounder, defender or shot-blocker, which the Lakers would also have to deal with in a potential NBA Finals matchup.
Plus, when Embiid’s on the court, there’s always the potential of him talking trash and/or starting a Twitter war, neither of which any of the Lakers should engage him with should the two teams meet this June with the world championship on the line.