76ers: One Joel Embiid trade for every team ranked least to most likely
By Jack Simone
For what seems like the millionth year in a row, Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers’ season ended in the second round of the playoffs. In reality, it’s just the third year in a row, but it’s happened five times in the last six seasons. (With the other season being a first-round exit.)
Now, there are some weird vibes in the air for Philadelphia. The future of the team seems to be in a state of disarray, as there could be a lot of moving parts this summer.
Philadelphia already fired Doc Rivers, so at the very least, there will be a new coach in town next season. But past that, there’s also the fact that James Harden could simply leave in free agency, with the Houston Rockets being the most likely destination.
And based on a recent report from Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, that’s looking like a reality, rather than speculation.
So, where does that leave Embiid?
76ers: One Joel Embiid trade for every team ranked least to most likely
In all likelihood, Embiid will stay in Philadelphia and attempt to compete with whatever core they put around him. But if Harden leaves, could Embiid be the next NBA megastar to request a trade?
If that does happen, and again, it seems unlikely, one would have to imagine that all 29 other NBA teams would at least call to inquire about Embiid. That would lead to 29 different offers for the 76ers to consider.
So that’s exactly what’s been concocted.
Obviously, some offers are going to look a lot different than others. And some offers may need more or fewer first-round picks than what’s written. But these are simply baseline offers of what each other NBA team could feasibly offer.
And it’s also important to note that the large majority of these trades are completely unrealistic. Whether it be because the other team wouldn’t make the offer or because the 76ers would decline it immediately, only a handful of these deals would be on the table.
But with all that in mind, here is one Embiid trade for every NBA team ranked from least likely to most likely. (Spoiler alert: None of the trades outside of the top nine are all that realistic. Maybe the top five.)