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Grade the Trade: Knicks blow up roster for Joel Embiid in proposed trade

By Josh Cornelissen

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 25, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 25, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, Philadelphia Sixers, Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) – New York Knicks /

Will this Joel Embiid trade work for the Knicks and 76ers?

Would this be enough for the 76ers? The Knicks have a combination of their own draft picks and those of other teams, which would allow the 76ers to split their haul here between far-off Knicks picks and a couple of sooner picks from other teams, perhaps the Dallas and Washington picks for 2024. That total of five firsts is the type of return players like Embiid are receiving in deals.

Is the young talent going back enough? Perhaps not, but it’s a solid core. Barrett is the type of ball-handling wing teams covet in the modern NBA, and free of the floor-spacing restrictions of playing with both Julius Randle and a traditional big could open the court up for him. Mitchell Robinson can start for Philly or net them a first on the trade market. Obi Toppin has a viable case to start, and Miles McBride deserves rotation minutes. That’s a solid group.

If the Knicks need to, they can sweeten the pot a bit by swapping McBride for Immanuel Quickley, and if that’s required to get this over the finish line they would probably do it.

They do it because this would bring them a star the likes of which the Knicks haven’t had since Patrick Ewing — all apologies to Carmelo Anthony and the vision of himself Stephon Marbury saw in his head. Embiid and Jalen Brunson would be an absolutely lethal star pairing, and Randle’s increased shooting could make things work with him at the 4.

This team could absolutely win a title next season if everything came together, and that’s why you make this type of deal. The Knicks kept their chips to trade for a top-10 player, and that’s what they would get here. The Knicks pull the trigger on this in a heartbeat.

Grade: A

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