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3 Players Sixers could trade for to keep Knicks away from Joel Embiid

By Jordanna Clark

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 28: Joel Embiid #21 of Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Toronto Raptors during first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on October 28, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 28: Joel Embiid #21 of Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Toronto Raptors during first half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on October 28, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /
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The Sixers are finally in their post-James Harden era, so now, the organization can focus on building a win-now team around Joel Embiid. Philadelphia got two first-round picks in the trade and is hunting for another All-Star player to add to the roster.

Teams like the New York Knicks hope that the Sixers’ plans will go south so that Embiid will request a trade. He’s a player that the front office has been monitoring, and he already has a relationship with Leon Rose, his former CAA agent.

To keep Embiid as far away from New York as possible, Daryl Morey will prowl the market for players who could want out of their current situations.

3 Players the Sixers could trade for to keep Joel Embiid happy

3: OG Anunoby

Although it’s early, the Raptors don’t look like a playoff team. Masai Ujiri has refused to guide Toronto into a rebuilding phase, and it’s already come back to bite him. The team was lucky enough to make the play-in tournament last season, and they’ll be even luckier if the 2023-24 season ends with the same result.

OG Anunoby has a $19.9 million player option for 2023-24 that he could decline to become a free agent. Like Fred VanVleet, he could leave the Raptors with nothing in return. To prevent that, Toronto could trade him before the Feb. 8 deadline.

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reported that Anunoby is one of the players that Philadelphia is targeting in a trade. The 26-year-old isn’t a star-level player, but he could reach that height with the Sixers. Anunoby’s a great defender who hasn’t been off to a hot shooting start this season, but in 2022-23, he shot 38.7% from three and 47.6% from the field.

Nick Nurse should be pushing for Philadelphia to acquire Anunoby if he becomes available, and if that happens, it could mean bad news for New York.

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