NBA Rumors: Knicks dream target reportedly not considering a trade just yet
Another chapter in the James Harden-Sixers drama has been released, and because the situation directly ties into Joel Embiid’s future, the New York Knicks should be paying close attention.
As the days pass, the start of training camp nears. Philadelphia dealt with one disgruntled star in training camp two years ago, and it will deal with another this year in Harden. The 34-year-old exercised his $35.6 million player option for 2023-24 and asked for a trade, a request that the Sixers haven’t fulfilled.
Harden’s relationship with Daryl Morey has crumbled this offseason, and ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne gave a closer look at why. Harden is still chasing the maximum offers that were on the table in Houston and Brooklyn, but Philadelphia rightfully wasn’t willing to offer him anything close to those numbers.
He feels that the “sacrifice” he gave by taking a pay cut last summer and accepting his diminished offensive role should be rewarded.
The Sixers and Harden are far from reaching a solution, which is good news for teams like the Knicks that could make a play for Embiid. However, according to Shelbourne’s sources, the reigning MVP is satisfied with waiting to see how the Harden saga plays out.
"Thus far, Embiid has given the franchise assurances he is OK riding out the current drama with Harden, sources said. How long he gives them to resolve the matter remains to be seen."
Knicks dream trade target Joel Embiid has given Sixers “assurances” regarding James Harden drama
The last sentence in Ramona Shelbourne’s report is key. James Harden has called Daryl Morey “a liar” and said he doesn’t believe his relationship with the Sixers is repairable, so the situation is expected to continue to draw out. How long until Joel Embiid will get fed up? Or start to look for an out himself?
Embiid dealt with something similar in 2021 when Ben Simmons didn’t participate in training camp, so he knows how it goes. The reality is that time is ticking, and now that he’s won a regular season MVP award, a championship is next. Philadelphia is right for not accepting a measly trade return for Harden because the team needs to stay in a position to contend.
If the first half of the 2023-24 season doesn’t go as planned for Embiid and the Sixers, the center could be the next star to request a trade. Given the current state of Philadelphia’s organization, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were on a new team before the trade deadline.
It isn’t unusual that Embiid is willing to ride out the Harden saga because what else is there to do? There’s a chance things could be patched up in time for training camp, although that seems increasingly unlikely. The Knicks will continue to wait in the rafters for the right moment to swoop in, which could be sooner rather than later.