The New York Knicks and Houston Rockets are teams to watch in the Joel Embiid trade sweepstakes if the superstar requests a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, according to NBA insider Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
James Harden has requested a trade from the Sixers and will not show up to training camp if he’s still on the team. Embiid is not expected to ask for a trade this offseason, but the reigning NBA MVP could request a trade next summer if the Sixers don’t have a successful 2023-24 season.
Embiid developed a close relationship with new Rockets head coach Ime Udoka when Udoka was an assistant coach on the Sixers. Meanwhile, since 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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
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 Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs but lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games.
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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Philadelphia’s 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, 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 Philadelphia uniform again, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
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