According to NBA insider Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid “wants to come back in the best shape of his life” next season. Embiid was listed at 280 pounds last season.
The Sixers are currently dealing with James Harden’s trade request. The 2017-18 NBA MVP wants to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Embiid, who signed a four-year, $210 million contract extension in 2021, obviously wants Harden to stay with the Sixers, but Harden intends to “never wear” a Sixers uniform again, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
A three-time scoring champion, Harden requested trades from the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets and got his wish both times, so odds are the lefty will eventually get traded by the Sixers.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Joel Embiid & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
In 394 regular-season games with Philadelphia, Embiid is averaging 27.2 points and 11.2 rebounds. He has made six All-Star teams, five All-NBA teams and three All-Defensive teams and won one MVP Award. However, the Sixers have never gotten past the second round of the NBA playoffs in the Embiid era.
Despite Harden requesting a trade, Embiid still wants to stay in Philadelphia. The Sixers’ belief is that Embiid would like to spend his entire NBA career with them, similar to Dirk Nowitzki with the Dallas Mavericks and Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Embiid averaged 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds last season for the Sixers while shooting 54.8% from the field, 33.0% from beyond the arc and 85.7% from the free-throw line. Philadelphia swept the Nets in the first round of the 2023 playoffs but lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Joel Embiid & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Since New York Knicks president Leon Rose used to be Embiid’s agent, some people around the NBA believe New York would have an advantage in the Embiid trade sweepstakes if the Kansas product hit the trade block. For now, though, it looks like Embiid is focused on winning a championship with the Sixers.
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