If you’re a Philadelphia 76ers fan who lived through The Process, give yourself a round of applause. It was grueling. It was painful. The Sixers deliberately tanked for multiple NBA seasons to maximize their lottery odds. In the end, it paid off.
Joel Embiid is the payoff. He was just named the league’s Most Valuable Player. The entire purpose of The Process was to land a player like Embiid.
Now, the Sixers might lose him. James Harden has requested a trade. Recently, Embiid has made some comments that suggest that he could eventually do the same. Could the New York Knicks acquire him?
The Trade Proposal
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: G/F RJ Barrett, C Mitchell Robinson, G Immanuel Quickley, 2024 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2026 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2028 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2030 First-Round Pick (NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: C Joel Embiid
Does tanking work? We’ve seen plenty of teams try it in the past. With that said, they mostly tanked for one season. Before the league flattened the lottery odds, teams were more inclined to tank with a single prospect in mind.
Now, teams will tank for multiple years to ensure a top prospect. The Houston Rockets have been the most recent team to do so. Will their long-term tank eventually result in a title? It’s hard to say.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers & New York Knicks Updates
With that said, we can conclude that the Sixers’ odds of eventually building a champion around Embiid feel lower than ever. Whether that’s a result of tanking or dumb luck is in the eye of the beholder. Should they really start a new Process?
Why The Philadelphia 76ers Do The Deal
This certainly feels like a fresh start for the Sixers. They’d be moving from title contention to, in all likelihood, closer to the bottom of the NBA’s standings. Meanwhile, they wouldn’t even have a pick to show for it. The Sixers owe most of their own draft capital for the foreseeable future to other teams. Does that make this a bad choice?
Well, what alternative do they have? If Harden forces his way out, the Sixers won’t have the means to replace him. If Embiid sees the writing on the wall and wants out, the Sixers will be stuck. Besides, they don’t have to be an absolute bottom feeder here.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers & New York Knicks Updates
Tyrese Maxey still has star potential. Robinson is among the best defensive big men in the NBA. Following this deal, the Sixers could be a scrappy young team with the draft capital to make another big deal down the line. Should the Knicks set them up for future success?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
The Knicks are trading for the league’s reigning MVP. The move justifies itself. Embiid is also a good fit here. He’ll make up much of Robinson’s interior defense while providing a huge offensive upgrade. Meanwhile, Barrett has been too inconsistent to be a major contributor on the win-now Knicks anyway.
Following this deal, the Knicks would be major title contenders. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are both capable floor spacers who complement Embiid. All of the pieces here click.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers & New York Knicks Updates
So, this is well worth the price for New York. If the Sixers wanted another pick, the Knicks should offer it. Whatever they’ve got to do to get Embiid in town, they should do it. If everything goes well, their process could result in an NBA title.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
