Report: If the Bucks get the No. 1 pick they are leaning toward Joel Embiid

General managers fall in love with size.

Every year as the draft gets closer players 6’10 and up — even project big guys — climb draft boards everywhere because at the end of the day they have the one thing that is both important in the NBA and can’t be taught. The big men may be more mobile now, asked to do different things than eras gone by, but the cliché of “tall and good beats small and good” still pulls at GMs.

Enter the Milwaukee Bucks, who have the worst record in the NBA right now and when the NBA Draft Lottery rolls around likely will have the most Ping-Pong balls (which gets them basically a 25 percent shot at the top pick).

Jeff Goodman of ESPN says if the Bucks win the lottery, they likely go with the Kansas big man (at tip to Eye on Basketball).

Bucks GM John Hammond will choose the player he thinks has the best chance of being a star. Right now it’s a three-man race, but sources indicate Hammond loves the skill, size and rapid progression of Embiid. The Cameroon native is new to the game and has tremendous upside. Embiid can help the Bucks on both ends of the court, and while he recently told ESPN.com he might return to school, most feel that he’ll be in June’s draft.

The highly trusted DraftExpress also has Embiid at the top of its draft board right now, which is a good sign a number of teams are thinking the same thing.

What makes this draft class special is that Andrew Wiggins and his athletic potential, Jabari Parker and his ability to score in a variety of ways, and Kentucky big man Julius Randle all have backers. It’s possible any of them go No. 1, depending on who wins the draft lottery. Then there are guys after that like Dante Exum (of Australia) and Aaron Gordon (Arizona) that some scouts think could be special as well.

Embiid has said he will seriously consider staying in school for another year, but as I’ve said before a lot of guys have said that until they really think about the money on the table. That’s hard to walk away from.

If Embiid comes out, I’d be surprised if he goes any lower than No. 2.