Top prospects to skip NBA predraft combine

Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Joel Embiid, the consensus top three talents in the loaded 2014 draft class, will not attend this week’s pre-draft combine in Chicago, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of YahooSports.

The combine, which begins Wednesday, gives teams an early look at some basketball abilities, and allows for physicals to be taken by the players.

Wojnarowski noted that while it is not uncommon for top prospects not to participate in drills, having the three most highly-touted talents unavailable is unprecedented.

In reality, the missing of the combine doesn’t mean much for these guys, except that they may have to take multiple physicals down the road. Embiid’s back remains a concern however, as he has still not been cleared for full-contact workouts.

“[Missing the combine] is more of a concern about Embid than Parker, given [Embiid’s] back issues,” one NBA general manager stated.

There is certainly some risk that would come with drafting Embiid, but missing out on the combine shouldn’t be too big of a concern for these top prospects.