Around the NBA, people are always speculating. We’re anticipating situations before they happen. Sometimes, this is how rumors start. Recently, the Philadelphia 76ers are probably getting tired of hearing rumors.
We’re not talking about the James Harden situation. There’s no hearsay involved there. Both Harden and Sixers’ general manager Daryl Morey have publicly and definitely closed the door on their relationship.
We’re talking about the potential fallout from that situation. If the Sixers regress after moving Harden, could Joel Embiid request a trade next?
That’s what people are suggesting. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks have been heavily linked to the league’s defending MVP. If Embiid hits the trade market, look for the Knicks to pursue him aggressively.
Here’s the best offer that they could make.
NBA Trade Proposal — New York Knicks’ Best Offer For Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: G/F RJ Barrett, C Mitchell Robinson, 2024 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2026 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2028 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2030 First-Round Pick (NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: C Joel Embiid
Go re-read the headline. This isn’t the offer that the Knicks will make for Embiid. It’s the best offer that they can make. If the rumors have any truth in them, this might not be a price that the Knicks are willing to pay.
Recently, it’s been suggested that they’d part with Barrett and “two or three first-round picks”. That’s a bit off from our market evaluation here. Which one of us is right? Do the Knicks have a reasonable understanding of Embiid’s value, or is our trade more realistic?
You can be the judge. One thing is clear: the Knicks shouldn’t lowball the Sixers. Even if Embiid specifically wants to go to New York, the Knicks need to be willing to send market value.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks Updates
Look at what happened with Damian Lillard this summer. He wanted to go to the Miami Heat, and the Milwaukee Bucks outbid them anyway.
Should the Knicks avoid the same fate by sending this type of package?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
Let’s be honest. Embiid is worth more than Barrett and two or three picks. He just won the league’s MVP award. Meanwhile, Barrett hasn’t necessarily rounded into form at the NBA level yet.
The Knicks will have to do better. This would still be a deal worth making for them. The Knicks can afford to part with Robinson if they’re landing Embiid. That duo can’t play together anyway.
Meanwhile, if the Knicks won’t part with four firsts, they don’t want the league’s reigning MVP. They should. By pairing Embiid with Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, the Knicks would have one of the most talented teams in the NBA.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks Updates
They’d become overnight contenders by making this deal. Should the Sixers send Embiid to their conference rival?
Why The Philadelphia 76ers Do The Deal
Sure. The Sixers don’t need to worry about which conference Embiid is playing in if they’re moving him. After all, they’ll be a few years from contention anyway.
By the time the Sixers are back to thinking about NBA championships, Embiid will be on the tail end of his prime at best. That doesn’t mean that the Sixers need to plummet to the bottom of the standings following this deal.
They’d have Barrett and Robinson joining Tyrese Maxey. That’s already an interesting young core. The Sixers could be surprisingly competitive following this deal.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks Updates
Yet, the four unprotected first-round picks are the main draw here. The Sixers could use those selections to add young talent or to trade for a star down the line. If nothing else, expect them to find their way back into trade rumors with this draft capital.
