The Philadelphia 76ers can't take Joel Embiid's loyalty for granted
James Harden's trade request is derailing the Philadelphia 76ers' summer, but Joel Embiid apparently is willing to ride out the turmoil.
Per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, the 76ers' center has given the team "assurances" while the drama plays out.
Embiid is in familiar territory. Two years ago, the 2023 MVP endured a similar situation with Ben Simmons. The former first-overall draft pick wanted out of the Sixers and refused to play for the entire season. Simmons was ultimately traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the deal to acquire James Harden.
The Sixers are currently stuck in the mud. Nick Nurse is set to begin his first year as the team's new head coach. Yet, Philadelphia has failed to improve on the roster Nurse inherited from Doc Rivers. Instead, Nurse walked into the eye of a storm, which will surely impact his preparations for the new season.
Such turmoil will only serve to test Embiid's loyalty to the Sixers franchise. Daryl Morey is presiding over an aging roster with diminishing championship possibilities. Harden is no longer an elite trade asset, especially now his trade demands are public. That leaves Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris as the only viable way to improve via trades.
Morey knew the risks when acquiring Harden. Now, he will have his work cut out as he tries to appease two star players with vastly different agendas. How Morey handles that task will have a significant impact on what direction the Sixers franchise takes in the coming years.
Embiid may have provided the Sixers with assurances, but they will certainly not be unconditional. The 2023 MVP wants to win. He wants to challenge for championships. If Philadelphia can't provide that, there will be no shortage of teams that can.
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