Maybe it’s because it’s the dead part of the offseason or because the James Harden-Sixers saga worsens by the day, but Joel Embiid’s future is a hot topic. The belief is the star center will request a trade and land in The Big Apple with the New York Knicks, an outcome Leon Rose would likely be thrilled with.
There are Knicks fans who would love to see Embiid play for New York, while others are hesitant to give up assets and young players for a player who has yet to lead the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Finals. Would Embiid be worth mortgaging the Knicks’ future for? Given it’s been reported that New York is hoping things will go south in Philadelphia, the front office seems to believe so.
If Embiid hit the trade market before the 2023-24 season starts, that’d be a shocker, but it’s a possibility that can’t be entirely ruled out. He could be on the move before the February deadline or next summer if the Sixers don’t experience postseason success. He could remain with the Sixers, so the trade rumors could all be for naught.
If the star center does become available, the Knicks will have competition in trade talks, and these three teams could do their best to “steal” Embiid from New York.
3 teams that could try to outbid Knicks if Joel Embiid requests trade
3: Oklahoma City Thunder
Sam Presti is one of the top front-office executives in the league, which is why the Thunder have 35 draft picks (15 first-round picks) over the next seven years. Oklahoma City has a star point guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a load of promising young players, headlined by Chet Holmgren, who could win 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year.
The Thunder snuck into the play-in tournament last season with a 42-40 regular season record, the ninth-best in the Western Conference. With Holmgren making his long-awaited debut this season, Oklahoma City should be back in the play-in again, except this time, the Thunder could advance to the first round of the playoffs for the first time in four years.
The organization could easily meet Daryl Morey’s asking price if Joel Embiid requests a trade, but is that a move the Thunder should make? Probably not. Presti has orchestrated an excellent rebuild in Oklahoma City, and cashing in chips for Embiid isn’t the direction the organization seemingly wants to go in.
Still, the Thunder would be in the best position in the league to disrupt the Knicks’ dreams of trading for Embiid.
2: Houston Rockets
If we’ve learned anything from the James Harden situation, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve known someone, the NBA is a business. Joel Embiid won’t have the final say in where he ends up if he’s traded, but if he did, he likely wouldn’t oppose going to Houston.
As Rockets beat writer Kelly Iko said on The Athletic NBA show, Houston would be a team to watch in the Embiid sweepstakes because of the center’s relationship with Ime Udoka. The new Rockets head coach not only spent a season with the Sixers on Brett Brown’s staff, but Udoka also coached Embiid in 2013 at the Adidas Nations camp.
Morey could do business with the organization he spent 14 years with before leaving for Philadelphia, and he’d likely rather do so than send Embiid to a division rival. The Rockets have intriguing young players Morey could eye to officially send the Sixers back into “Trust the Process” mode.
Tampering runs rampant in the NBA, and Udoka could’ve already made a pitch to Embiid about why Houston would be a good fit for him.
1: Miami Heat
If there’s one person who’d love to take Joel Embiid away from the Knicks, it’s Pat Riley. The Heat have tried to get Damian Lillard this summer, but like the Sixers, the Trail Blazers aren’t going to let the star guard go at the risk of setting Portland’s organization back.
Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill reported that the Knicks and Heat are two teams “keeping an eye on everything going on” with Embiid. With Lillard trade talks at a standstill, Riley and Miami could’ve already turned their attention to the reigning MVP.
Trading for Embiid would be a considerable risk for the Heat because it’d mean giving up 26-year-old Bam Adebayo. He’s solidified himself as a star in the NBA and was a key part of Miami’s two NBA Finals runs in the past four years. Not only is he a few years younger than Embiid, but except for 2021-22, Adebayo has played in more regular season games than Embiid since being drafted in 2017.
The Heat’s goal is seemingly adding another star to the Jimmy Butler and Adebayo duo. Still, if the chance to trade for Lillard never materializes, Miami could pivot to Embiid.
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