Bucks owner to avoid Embiid, narrow in on Wiggins, Parker in draft
Speaking at the Milwaukee Press Club and the Rotary Club of Milwaukee's Newsmaker Breakfast on Monday morning, Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry essentially ruled out the possibility of the team selecting injured Kansas center Joel Embiid with the No. 2 overall pick.
Leading a question and answer session with the Bucks co-owner was Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Rich Kirchen of the Milwaukee Business Journal and Lance Allan of WTMJ 4 in Milwaukee.
"I think it's hard to take Embiid," Lasry said during the question and answer session. "He's a phenomenal individual. But with the injury, and how severe and how long it will take him to recover, I think for us today we're going to want someone who is going to help us on Day 1.
"A lot of it is going to depend on what Cleveland does. The other part of it is who contacts us and different things we hear from the draft pick."
Teams already had concerns over Embiid's back after he missed the NCAA tournament with a stress fracture, but now the 7-foot center suffered a stress fracture in his right foot that required surgery. Embiid, who had to cancel his workout in Milwaukee due to the injury, is expected to miss the next four to six months.
At Monday's event, Lasry said Milwaukee's decision at No. 2 "got a lot easier" after Embiid got hurt. While the Bucks were expected to pass on Embiid and choose between Kansas guard Andrew Wiggins and Duke forward Jabari Parker, Monday's comments by the co-owner of the team essentially confirmed the notion.
Parker worked out for the Bucks in Milwaukee last Tuesday, while Wiggins was in town for a workout last Friday. The Bucks could have their pick made for them, as Cleveland is expected to choose Wiggins or Parker with the top pick, leaving Milwaukee with what could be an easy choice.
Lasry also reiterated his desire to change the team's color scheme, but said at Monday's Newsmaker Breakfast he was told a return to purple is out because of "the dreaded Vikings" -- referring to the Minnesota Vikings.
"We'll be building our team thru draft picks, then bring in FAs, and hopefully, in 3-5 years we'll be contending for a championship," Lasry tweeted during his takeover of the Bucks official account Monday morning.
Additional investors in the franchise will be announced July 15, according to Lasry. He indicated at the event that he and fellow co-owner Wesley Edens are requiring a minimum investment of $5 million, although some exceptions could be made.
Lasry will be at Monday's Milwaukee Brewers game at Miller Park, appearing on FOX Sports Wisconsin's "Brewers Live" pregame show and throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
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