When the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard, Stephen A. Smith and the rest of the NBA world reacted to the trade on Twitter and all over social media as it happened. It had a domino effect on several teams across the league. Milwaukee got a lot better with this trade, and the Boston Celtics appear to be neck-and-neck with them.
However, there is one NBA contender in the Eastern Conference that Stephen A. Smith feels has not benefited from this trade. He said on a podcast after the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Dame:
“Philly is in a whole world of trouble. Joel Embiid, Keep your eyes open for Joel Embiid. He might demand to be traded after this. The Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics are now tit for tat as to who’s the favorite in the eastern Conference to go to the NBA Finals. There’s no way around it. Dame time has come to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.”
Joel Embiid is under contract with the Philadelphia 76ers for the next few years. He will have a player option for the 2026-2027 season, and if he accepts it, he will be a free agent after that season. Embiid is one of the top players in the NBA.
He is 29 years old and won the NBA MVP Award a season ago. Embiid averaged 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG and shot 54.8% from the field. He was rumored to be in trade talks with the New York Knicks, but we will see how that goes depending on what happens in the Eastern Conference in 2023-2024.
Stephen A. Smith Believes that the Philadelphia 76ers Will be Behind the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks
A season ago, the Celtics were the second seed, and the Bucks were the one seed in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers were the third seed in the east last season, and it feels as if that is going to be their ceiling for the next few seasons. If Philadelphia does not get past the second round this season once again, that is where Embiid may request a trade to a title contender.
The 76ers may not even have James Harden around at all this season. Philadelphia has not been to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000-2001, when they went to the NBA Finals and lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. They will be a playoff team again this season, no doubt, but their championship window has most likely closed.
