One NBA writer is proposing that the Oklahoma City Thunder acquire Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster trade. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report proposed the following outlandish trade idea between the Thunder and Sixers:
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers receive: Chet Holmgren, Victor Oladipo, Dāvis Bertāns, Isaiah Joe, 2024 first-round pick, 2025 first-round pick (via PHI), 2026 first-round pick (via LAC), 2024 second-round pick (via HOU), 2025 second-round pick (via PHI), 2030 second-round pick (via Rockets)
“The Thunder already have an All-NBA first-teamer in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the most enormous war chest of draft picks in league history and several exciting young players like Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren,” Pincus wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “Holmgren missed his initial rookie year with a foot injury. While he may grow into a highly productive big man, Joel Embiid is one of the two best centers in the NBA. The Thunder could build a package around Holmgren (with Dāvis Bertāns, Victor Oladipo and other young players as salary ballast) with as many picks as needed to get a deal done.”
Many people around the NBA believe Embiid will request a trade from the Sixers “sooner rather than later,” according to NBA insider Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. James Harden wants the Sixers to trade him to the Los Angeles Clippers and the 2017-18 NBA MVP called Daryl Morey a “liar” during his Adidas China tour.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Oklahoma City Thunder, Joel Embiid & 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 the Sixers, 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, Philadelphia has never gotten past the second round of the NBA playoffs in the Embiid era.
Embiid, who signed a four-year, $210 million contract extension in 2021, wants Harden to stay with the Sixers, but Harden intends to “never wear” a Philadelphia uniform again, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Oklahoma City Thunder, Joel Embiid & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Embiid is not expected to request a trade from the Sixers this summer, but he could next offseason depending on how the Harden trade request plays out and how many games Philadelphia wins in 2023-24. The Thunder would have a lethal dynamic duo of Gilgeous-Alexander and Embiid if OKC’s front office figured out a way to acquire Embiid.
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