5 Stars Joel Embiid should quietly be recruiting right now
By Tyler Watts
![Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/e78c619f8753d9c37c625048a8ee2ae64866bf3e5f17878397a6297f8f46b15d.jpg)
2. Pascal Siakam
Siakam faces an uncertain future. The two-time All-Star is in the final year of his contract, but Raptors president Masai Ujiri made it clear the team won’t engage in extension discussions until they play the “right way”.
Toronto missed the playoffs last season and could be in a full-scale rebuild before the deadline. Fred VanVleet already departed in free agency. The Raptors added Dennis Schroder and re-signed Jakob Poeltl this summer, but there is still work to do. Gary Trent Jr. is in the final year of his contract and OG Anunoby is expected to decline his player option to become a free agent in the 2024 offseason. Toronto needs to extend or look to trade these talented players before losing them for zero return.
Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam could give the 76ers one of the best frontcourts in the league. Siakam averaged 24.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 0.9 steals in 37.4 minutes per game last season. He became an All-Star under now Sixers head coach Nick Nurse and could take some ball-handling and playmaking pressure off Tyrese Maxey.
Siakam has already appeared in trade rumors and figures to keep popping up until he is extended or dealt. If the two-time All-Star becomes a free agent next summer, the Philadelphia 76ers would love to add him, and Joel Embiid should already be working on convincing Siakam to join his team.