With the James Harden conundrum having already blown out of proportion, the Philadelphia 76ers are in an unenviable position of trying to find a way out without compromising their stance as an organization.
Realistically, the Sixers should still be safe in the playoff picture out East, but any accomplishment moving forward may not have the same assurance of sustainability which everyone saw in glimpses last season. Heck, should the ongoing turbulence surrounding the franchise continue its rapid onslaught, it could be a matter of when — not if — when pondering about the future of the team’s centerpiece, Joel Embiid, in Philadelphia.
The clock could start ticking soon for the Philadelphia 76ers and their partnership with franchise centerpiece Joel Embiid
At this rate, no objective fan can really blame anyone for wanting to skip town amid all these tiresome theatrics. After all, for an organization so desperate for validation by winning a championship, the 76ers do not resemble a squad with the necessary sense of accountability nor commitment to be blessed by the basketball gods.
If these dissonances continue to drag on, then the clock could really start to tick for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Joel Embiid era. In fact, here is one trade proposal from Bleacher Report that has the franchise moving on and rebuilding by sending the MVP for another potential centerpiece.
The 76ers land a new franchise centerpiece and send Joel Embiid to the Thunder in this mock proposal
"Philadelphia 76ers receive: Chet Holmgren, Victor Oladipo, Dāvis Bertāns, Isaiah Joe, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2025 First-Round Pick (via Philadelphia), 2026 First-Round Pick (via LA Clippers), 2024 Second-Round Pick (via Houston), 2025 Second-Round Pick (via Philadelphia), 2030 Second-Round Pick (via Houston) Oklahoma City Thunder receive: Joel Embiid"
In this trade proposal, the Philadelphia 76ers commence yet another rebuild by sending Embiid to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a package centered on Chet Holmgren, veterans Victor Oladipo and Davis Bertans, sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, three first-round picks, and three future second-rounders.
Led by All-NBA First Team guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC is widely expected to break out next season, especially with Holmgren now in the fold following a year-long absence in what was supposedly his rookie campaign. That being said, considering their robust draft capital, they could easily flip their direction and try to win now by snagging someone like Embiid, the reigning league MVP.
On the flip side, frustrations could be building up for Embiid due to the proverbial instability and ruckus permeating the 76ers in recent years. If he ever wants out, albeit understandably, Philly would have no choice but to rebuild and start a new youth movement by amplifying their young core led by Tyrese Maxey.
Let’s zoom in on this deal a bit more.
Will Chet Holmgren be enough for the 76ers to rebuild and move on from the Joel Embiid era?
Holmgren, the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is now healthy after missing the entirety of last season due to a Lipsfranc injury in his foot. He is now expected to be one of Oklahoma City’s cornerstones in their youth movement as they actively build around SGA.
At 7’1, Holmgren is a nifty center with a solid, efficient inside game with impressive versatility as he can also play the role of floor spacer with his soft touch in the perimeter. Despite his still-lanky build, he projects as one of the league’s most intriguing prospects due to his sheer skill and potential. Hence, it’s easy to see the 76ers putting a laser on him should they pivot to a rebuild.
A pairing of Holmgren and Maxey to kickstart a rebuild is an interesting option for sure. Sweetening the pot for Philly with three future first-round draft picks over the next three years will give the front office more than sufficient incentive to play the long game and see where it gets them when some of the powerhouses in the league start to decline.
Isaiah Joe and the future second-rounders are also nice additives to this return package. To wit, if this proposal materializes, it should actually turn out to be a nice baseline that will give the Sixers front office an idea of Embiid’s price tag.
What are the downsides of this trade for the Philadelphia 76ers?
Well, the biggest downside of this deal is still the very fact that Philly is sending out someone like Joel Embiid, one of the league’s best players, for a question mark like Holmgren. While this question mark is quite the sterling one, it is inarguable that it’s still a risky exchange. Even if Holmgren pans out and becomes a perennial All-Star, MVP-level players like Embiid don’t come around too often.
Anointing a hypothetical to serve as the fulcrum of a return package for someone like Embiid is already a loss. After all, this will force the 76ers to go through another exhausting stretch of rebuilding — this time with less incentive given the league’s flattened draft odds. Unlike before, the franchise can’t simply just bottom out and be guaranteed a coveted talent. Thus, a more resolute nucleus should already be set.
In addition, the first-round selections to be sent to Philly in this deal are far from inspiring. In fact, the 76ers are simply regaining one of their own which they previously dangled away in the Al Horford trade. The Thunder and Clippers, owners of the other two first-rounders, are not expected to even be near the cellar for the foreseeable future.
Lastly, with OKC boasting an embarrassment of riches with their draft picks, parting with just three is too much of a bargain for someone like Embiid. If anything, this should give the 76ers a layer of reasonable audacity to seek out much more.
Grade: C+