According to NBA insider Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Joel Embiid has given the Philadelphia 76ers assurances that he is “OK” riding out the current drama with James Harden, who has requested a trade and doesn’t plan to report to training camp if he’s still on the Sixers.
Embiid has been in touch with Harden throughout the trade request. 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.
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, the Sixers have never gotten past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, James Harden, 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 3 and 85.7% from the free-throw line. He won the NBA MVP Award over Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. Philadelphia swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2023 playoffs but lost to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games.
Harden is unhappy with Sixers president Daryl Morey over the lack of a long-term maximum-level contract offer this summer. The 10-time NBA All-Star wants to get traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
In 58 games for the Sixers in 2022-23, Harden averaged 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists while shooting 44.1% from the floor, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line. He led the NBA in assists per game for the second time in his career.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, James Harden, 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.
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