Philadelphia 76ers Trade: Joel Embiid for generational draft prospect
The Philadelphia 76ers are disappointingly watching the NBA Finals from home again this year like all of their fans, and it has led to an outrageous discussion on many local media sites.
Should the Philadelphia 76ers trade Joel Embiid?
Now if you ask me, this is a ridiculous question. Embiid is coming off arguably his best season, winning his first NBA Most Valuable Player award and having led the league in scoring for the second consecutive season. He is untouchable in my mind and why shouldn’t he be? Embiid is still in his prime and he may still have a higher ceiling to reach. There is one way, however, where I would humor the conversation of trading the reigning MVP.
Picture this, the year is 2025 and the Philadelphia 76ers have won their first NBA Championship in over 40 years with the dynamic duo of Tyrese Maxey and…Victor Wembanyama! That’s right, the consensus overall number-one draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft who is being touted as the greatest NBA prospect since LeBron James. The hyperbole for this kid is incredible, and I urge you to google the most outrageous take and comparisons scouts have been saying about Wembanyama; you will not be disappointed. I am pretty sure he can walk on water.
The San Antonio Spurs have the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft which was awarded to them during the NBA Draft lottery last month. The reaction by the Spurs at the lottery tells you everything you need to know about San Antonio’s excitement.
https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1658632675740073988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1658632675740073988%7Ctwgr%5Ee73bc3d1a6e5efe5481e8c95e8c234a0d80497f7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftherookiewire.usatoday.com%2Flists%2Fspurs-victor-wembanyama-twitter-reaction%2F
As Malika Harris said in that clip, the Spurs get to draft a “paradigm shifter” so why would they ever trade that opportunity?
*Joel Embiid has entered the chat*
Look, I realize this trade is extremely unlikely, but would you trade Joel Embiid straight up for Victor Wembanyama? The Sixers would be able to restart The Process with Maxey and Wembanyama, likely the most talented young duo in the league, and have them under contract for years to come. Even though they may have a drop-off and not necessarily be competitive for the first couple of years, the future potential is terrifying for every other team in the NBA.
The Spurs on the other hand would be plugging in the league MVP to a cast of role players that would all benefit from the attention paid to Embiid. They would still have the cap room to sign veteran talent to build the roster around and 74-year-old Gregg Popovich would not have to stay around to coach until he was nearly 80 to reap the benefits of an NBA that might one day belong to Wembanyama.
As a Philadelphia 76ers fan, the prospect of Maxey and Wembanyama is salivating, however, I also realize it is a future built on potential, something that we have been sold around here for many years by the front office. Who knows if Wembanyama will turn into the supposed hybrid of Wilt Chamberlain and Steph Curry or if he will stay healthy at his size with a full NBA schedule? Regardless, I still would not trade Embiid in his prime, but it is interesting to ponder the possibilities.
