Sixers ‘Absolutely No Plans’ To Trade Joel Embiid To Knicks

The Philadelphia 76ers have “absolutely no plans” to trade Joel Embiid to the New York Knicks, according to NBA insider Ian Begley of SNY. The Sixers don’t plan to trade Embiid at all.

“As you’d imagine, the Sixers have absolutely no plans to trade Embiid to the Knicks – or anywhere else, per people familiar with the matter,” Begley wrote. “So any hypothetical conversation about Embiid to the Knicks – or anywhere else – should be put on hold for the moment.”

The Knicks have loomed as the leading suitor for Embiid if he requests a trade, per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. James Harden is working to get traded by the Sixers, so Embiid’s future will come into question if Harden gets traded.

Since Knicks president Leon Rose used to be Embiid’s agent, some people around the NBA believe New York would have an advantage in the Embiid trade sweepstakes if the Kansas product hit the trade block. However, Embiid wants to spend his entire career with the Sixers.

Philadelphia’s belief is that Embiid would like to spend his entire career with them, similar to Dirk Nowitzki with the Dallas Mavericks and Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In 394 regular-season games with the Sixers, Embiid is averaging 27.2 points and 11.2 rebounds. He has made six All-Star teams, five All-NBA teams and three All-Defensive teams and won one MVP Award. Philly signed Embiid to a four-year, $210 million contract extension in 2021.

The Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals in seven games. Doc Rivers was fired as head coach and replaced by Nick Nurse, who won the 2019 championship with the Toronto Raptors.

Philadelphia has never gotten past the second round of the playoffs in the Embiid era. It will be interesting to see how far the team goes next season.