Look for the signs
So what are the signs of the team considering a trade of the young Cameroon? Well the NBA lottery is the first sign. Much of what the team wants to do in the 2016-2017 season depends heavily on the bounce of those accursed ping pong balls. With a range of ending up with the 1st, 4th, 24th, and 26th picks of the draft to the bottom at 4th, 24th, and 26th draft picks, the worse our position ends up, the more likely the team is open to trading valuable young assets to acquire veteran leadership.
A second area of risk to opening the phone lines to the possibility of trades is the speed by which the team signs Dario Saric to a contract. Once on-board, Saric adds the passing and perimeter shooting which contributes mightily to the Embiid focused lineup. If there are any unforeseen problems in getting him signed, that could be a clear indication that the team is uncertain of which players they build the team around.
A third area of risk is the level of activity the team shows in free agency. Even signing two or three second tier free agents would be plenty to divert the risk of trading key pieces. But if the team pursues free agents who end up signing elsewhere for a prolonged period of time, they may abandon free agency altogether and work trades exclusively. In that scenario, the desperation of a new team President to mold the team in his own image may be so great that the team surrenders players cherished by Hinkie in an attempt to make-over the roster into a win now version more palatable to the other NBA owners.
Finally, the handling of Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor may suggest what the team has in store for the center position. While keeping both players would be a good thing if all three developed throughout the season, maintaining both could suggest that the team is opting to field offers for the third center – Joel Embiid.
Next: A Long And Winding Road