photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Andrew Wiggins soars in for a dunk past Duke forward Jabari Parker for a dunk late in the second half of the Champions Classic matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013 at the United Center in Chicago.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have 48 hours to figure out what, exactly, they want to do with their No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

As of Tuesday, ESPN.com’s Chad Ford and Jeff Goodman are reporting the organization is torn.

Presumably no longer interested in Kansas University center Joel Embiid, following successful surgery on his right foot, the Cavs are debating the longterm merits of taking either KU’s Andrew Wiggins or Duke’s Jabari Parker.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Andrew Wiggins soars in for a dunk past Duke forward Jabari Parker for a dunk late in the second half of the Champions Classic matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013 at the United Center in Chicago.

In Ford’s most recent mock draft, released Monday, he had Cleveland going with Parker, a 6-foot-8 forward, despite the fact Wiggins had a far more successful workout with the team.

Ford had some insight on the Parker-Wiggins debate, as well as what else might be scaring some teams away from Embiid, on The BS Report with Bill Simmons.

Ford revealed that more than one source of his indicated Parker prefers Milwaukee over Cleveland, and he either tanked or wasn’t worried about his workout with the Cavs.

Between that and the fact Wiggins seems a logical better fit for the makeup of the Cavs roster, and it seems the debate could end up going in the KU swingman’s favor.

Here is Simmons’ case for Wiggins going No. 1:

“… He’s an excellent defender already.
He’s gonna kind of pick and choose his
spots. He drifts out of games — he
doesn’t need the ball. He has a higher
upside, I think we’d all agree, than
Jabari. It just makes more sense to
take him.”

Ford agreed, saying he was confused with Cleveland’s infatuation with Parker as a No. 1 pick.

“All I know is the Cavs have been a
very screwy organization for awhile,
and nobody’s gonna be able to
criticize them if they get Jabari,
because Jabari’s gonna be good. He’s
gonna have a really good NBA career,
and he’s gonna be good.”

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas center Joel Embiid battles for position with Iowa State defenders Georges Niang, left, and DeAndre Kane during the second half on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 at Allen Fieldhouse.

As for Embiid, apparently medical examinations revealed some things about the 7-footer’s bone density that could leave some decision-makers skeptical, as did his blood work.

Here’s what Ford, ESPN’s draft insider, had to say:

“It’s not uncommon for athletes who
grew up in Africa to test positive for
hepatitis, you know, for example.
Something that has to do with diet.
It’s not uncommon for there to be
anemic issues and things like that.
There’s enough stuff there that scares
you a bit, but there’s also hope that
now that he’s over here, starts eating
right, gets in the right training
regimen, lets his body, frame grow
into… you know, he was growing so much
at the time, that maybe these will be
temporary growing pains and Embiid
will be fine in a few years. I know a
number of general managers who think
that way, because I think he goes top
10.”

Ford said a number of teams still haven’t seen Embiid’s medical information and his agent, Arn Tellem, could choose to be selective in its availability.

The ESPN reporter thought Philadelphia at No. 3, Orlando at No. 4, Boston at No. 6 and Philly at No. 10 seemed like possible destinations for the currently injured big man from Cameroon.

One team’s doctor theorized, Ford shared, Embiid’s body grew rapidly and the athletic center put enough torque on it in that span that it became detrimental to him, and caused the fractures in his back and foot.

“He’s gaining weight, and he’s getting
heavier and his frame’s growing, what
have you, and this was causing the
fractures. But you strengthen his
core… and he quits growing and you get
him on a right nutritional plan, and
all of this stuff goes away.”

Listen to the podcast at ESPN.com or on the YouTube player below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRPg3f3lPiQ#t=11