The Sixer Sense
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Are Philadelphia 76ers At Risk Of Trading Joel Embiid?

By Bret Stuter

Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 10, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown goes over a play with his team during the third quarter of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Wells Fargo Center. The Milwaukee Bucks won 109-108 in OT. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown goes over a play with his team during the third quarter of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Wells Fargo Center. The Milwaukee Bucks won 109-108 in OT. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

A long and winding road

It’s a long way to the NBA lottery, and even a longer time until the NBA off-season activity gets fully underway.  But we can no longer kid ourselves into the belief that the Philadelphia 76ers roster has any sacred cows.   This is a focused front office, a new administration that has been given unshackled authority to undo anything done by the previous president, and to forge a roster out of the pieces left behind.  There are not “don’t touch” players wearing a Philadelphia 76ers jersey right now.

I have my own personal hopes and wish list of who the team keeps on for the 2016-2017 season.  I’m quite certain many of you do as well.   But we are emerging from a pattern of roster building that tended to favor the cautious, slow, and methodical approach.  That’s gone.   Now, the team will no longer have openings for undrafted players.  The team may not even have many slots for rookies of any nature for the next couple of years.  If the team has truly committed to winning games now, then the roster needs from 4-5 players in the 4-7 years of NBA experience range.  You won’t find players of those specifications in any NBA draft.

Since arriving to the Philadelphia 76ers, no single player has embodied a “Trust the Process” mantra more than Joel Embiid.  As a result, he was given the best of care, handled with the most expert minds available, and supported at virtually every turn.   But fitting him into the new team lineup has its own set of inherent problems, problems which the new authority of the Philadelphia 76ers may not be willing to manage.  There is no way to snap fingers and convert rookie center Joel Embiid into the four year veteran capable of leading the team in the final minutes of a closely contested game to the win.   Right now, that is the priority of the team.  And as much care as was extended to Joel Embiid before, that is as much risk he has inherited as the pinnacle of “The Process” after its demise.  His future is no longer a certainty, any more than the future of Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel are a certainty.  Each are highly skilled and young NBA talents.

But that is something the team has made clear that it no longer values as highly as before.  “Just win baby” has taken a top priority, and Joel Embiid has not contributed to any success of the team as of yet.

Next: 76ers: Case for and Against Drafting Kris Dunn

It may never happen.   But it could.   Right now, we have to prepare for any possibility.   I am not the right person to break this news to you, as I truly believe that Joel Embiid IS that special of a player.  But it’s not my opinion that matters.  The only opinion that counts is that of President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo.   Right now, his task in infusing the Philadelphia 76er roster with veterans.  What he is willing to exchange for that to happen is the million dollar question.

But based on his answers, and the fact that Sam Hinkie is no more, I think the answer to that question is yes, Embiid could be traded.  It’s something that will keep us in the good graces of the NBA, and after all is said and done, that seems to be the highest priority to this team and ownership.