The Philadelphia 76ers and MVP Joel Embiid have been through a lot together. Embiid missed two full seasons after suffering a broken navicular bone in his foot before his rookie season, and the healing on his foot took longer than anticipated.
Since then, Embiid has transformed into the most dominant big man in the game. The 76ers went through many lows during Embiid’s first two seasons until Embiid coined these three words that would change life in Philly: “Trust The Process.”
Those three words are all it took for the Sixers to turn into perennial Eastern Conference contenders. However, with the recent news surrounding James Harden and the lack of playoff success, could The Process take his talents elsewhere?
Potential Landing Spots For Joel Embiid If He Wants Out
On The Athletic’s NBA Show, Houston Rockets staff writer Kelly Iko spoke about what two teams could vie for Joel Embiid’s services if he decides to leave.
“Another team [to watch] is Houston, just because of the bond between Joel and Ime [Udoka].
Maybe in the next year or so… because obviously, if Joel stays this season and plays it out, that’s one thing.
But moving forward, I do think New York and Houston are the two teams to watch if Joel said, I want to leave too.” (Via Rockets Wire)
The Houston Rockets would be an intriguing option for Embiid because they are loaded with young talent. Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Jabari Smith Jr. are their young core, and they signed Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks in free agency.
Embiid signed a four-year $213.28 max contract extension in 2021, but if Philadelphia is moving in the wrong direction, could Embiid force his way out? It would be hard to fathom Philly giving up Embiid at the NBA trade deadline. A move like this would likely need to be made in free agency.
The New York Knicks have been after every big-name free agent for two decades and haven’t signed that franchise-changing player.
Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are solid building blocks, but a player like Embiid could change the fortunes of a franchise. The Knicks have assets and haven’t pulled the trigger to acquire that big-name talent. The Knicks could go after Donovan Mitchell if he doesn’t sign an extension in Cleveland. Mitchell has a player option in 2025-26. If New York manages to get Mitchell, that could open the door for New York to sign Embiid if he declines his player option in 2026-27.
Let’s hope for Philly’s sake that they start to have more playoff success so they don’t have to deal with the prospects of their franchise player leaving.
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