An NBA scout recently told NBA Analysis Network that Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid “likes the idea” of playing for the New York Knicks.
However, Embiid doesn’t want to play for Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau.
“Embiid has privately pondered the idea of playing for the Knicks in recent years,” the scout said. “That’s not necessarily breaking news, many superstars have done the same. From what I’ve heard, he likes the idea of playing in New York but wouldn’t want to play for Thibodeau.”
Embiid signed a four-year, $210 million maximum contract extension with the Sixers in August 2021. Philadelphia has never gotten past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era, so some people around the NBA are wondering if the superstar big man is growing frustrated in “The City of Brotherly Love.”
The Knicks could put together a trade package for Embiid built around Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Obi Toppin. New York needs another star around point guard Jalen Brunson to make some serious noise in the playoffs, and Embiid certainly fits that bill. The Kansas product won the MVP Award this season by averaging 33.1 points and 10.2 rebounds.
Embiid not wanting to play for Thibodeau shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Athletic polled several players who said Thibodeau is the coach they’d least want to play for in the NBA.
“Just the grind,” one player said of Thibodeau. “He plays his guys 44 minutes (a game) all year. I’ve heard from guys like if he likes you — if you’re his guy — he’ll treat you great. He’ll play you a lot, talk to you, so you’ll f— with him in that sense. But if you’re on the outside, it’s like you’re not getting back in.”
Sixers All-Star James Harden can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2023-24 player option. If the former MVP leaves Philadelphia for the Houston Rockets, it will be interesting to see if Embiid requests a trade.
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