Former teammate says Joel Embiid aware of Knicks trade buzz
The New York Knicks and potential blockbuster trades seem to be synonymous at this point. Yet aside from dealing for Carmelo Anthony in 2011, New York's linkage to superstar talents has commonly been more smoke than fire.
Nonetheless, with mounds of trade assets at their disposal, speculation of the Knicks eventually prying Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers has run rampant in recent months. Buzz surrounding a possible trade between the two Atlantic Division foes has been unavoidable and Embiid is well in tune with the chatter, according to former teammate P.J. Tucker.
"Of course, he hears it," Tucker said of the Knicks rumors, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. "But you never know with these situations and how it's going to play out, what guys are thinking, what's happening behind closed doors. You never know."
Superstar trades have become a common occurrence in the modern NBA. Household names such as Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard have all been moved within the past eight months. Embiid's former teammate, James Harden, was jettisoned to the Los Angeles Clippers just one week ago after a drawn-out clash with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey.
Embiid has not requested a trade out of Philadelphia. Yet, his comments this offseason have many pegging him as the next big domino to fall in the NBA's rapid reshuffling of superstars.
“I just want to win a championship — whatever it takes,” Embiid said at the Uninterrupted Film Festival in July. “I don’t know where that’s going to be, whether that’s in Philly or anywhere else. I just want to have a chance to accomplish that."
Despite Embiid's own brilliance on the hardwood, the six-time All-Star hasn't come relatively close to hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy. Over Embiid's first seven seasons in Philadelphia, the Sixers have failed to advance past the conference semifinals.
Embiid and the 76ers have gotten out to a scorching hot start this season as their 5-1 record is tied with the Boston Celtics for the best in the Eastern Conference. Still, without Harden in the fold, Philly lacks a true running mate for Embiid (although Tyrese Maxey is attempting to take over that role), which could prove detrimental come playoff time.
If the Sixers endure yet another early postseason exit, expect buzz connecting Embiid to the Knicks to reach monstrous levels this summer.
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