One NBA writer believes Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will be one of the next stars to be traded. Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report thinks the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans are teams to watch for as possible landing spots for Embiid if the reigning MVP requests a trade from the Sixers.
“Although there have only been breadcrumbs thus far, would anyone blame Joel Embiid if he actually requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers? Forced to carry the organization through The Process years, Ben Simmons trade saga and now the James Harden drama, Embiid has had to carry a lot of weight on his broad shoulders as he continues to put up eye-popping numbers while making All-Stars games and winning his first MVP last season,” Swartz wrote in his NBA trade column. “Embiid is now the prize whom all the top contenders should be waiting for. He’s one of the best players in the league and is just beginning what projects to be a reasonable four-year, $213 million extension. Look for the 29-year-old to be the next superstar traded, possibly as early as this season’s Feb. 8 deadline.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
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.
Embiid averaged 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds last season for the Sixers. 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.
Embiid, who signed a four-year, $210 million contract extension in 2021, wants James 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: Joel Embiid, New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers Updates
Embiid is not expected to request a trade from the Sixers this season, but he could next offseason depending on how the Harden trade request plays out and how many games Philadelphia wins this season.
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