Knicks’ patience pays off in Bleacher Report’s Joel Embiid hot take
What do you say, Joel Embiid? Will you remain a Sixer for the entirety of the 2023-24 season? Leon Rose and the New York Knicks hope not.
James Harden missed Media Day and the first day of training camp but reunited with the team for day two. He reiterated on Friday that he still believes his relationship with the organization is beyond repair, so essentially, he’s still hoping he’ll be traded.
The Sixers want more than the unprotected first-round pick, pick swap, and salary the Clippers offered a few months ago (subscription required). At this point, Philadelphia’s best bet is to keep Harden to maximize its championship window, but it’s still unknown exactly what version of the disgruntled guard the team will get, but he did say he intends to play.
Between the ongoing saga and the Celtics and Bucks getting better over the offseason, the Sixers’ future doesn’t look too hot. The Knicks aren’t the only ones waiting for an Embiid trade request, as Bleacher Report predicted it could happen in 2023-24.
Bleacher Report lists Joel Embiid requesting trade as 2023-24 hot take
Maybe Joel Embiid requesting a trade isn’t that hot of a take. He’s coming off the best season of his life, which resulted in being named the 2022-23 MVP, and since being drafted in 2014, he’s yet to experience an Eastern Conference Finals. He’ll turn 30 toward the end of the regular season, so time is ticking.
The star center is one of the targets the Knicks are reportedly monitoring, and he’s most likely at the top of their list. The real battle won’t be Embiid requesting a trade (if he does), but the bidding war that’d ensue afterward. New York has the combination of assets and young players to get a deal done, but Daryl Morey could hold out, similar to what Portland did with Damian Lillard.
Knicks fans are becoming antsy, wondering when the front office will make their long-awaited move, but it’s a good thing it hasn’t happened yet. If Embiid hits the market, the Knicks will scramble to bring him to Madison Square Garden.