Why 76ers' Joel Embiid should be the next superstar to demand a trade

Since the Joel Embiid era began in 2014, the Philadelphia 76ers have yet to make a conference finals despite having contending rosters. It may be time for Embiid -- who twice has finished second in the NBA MVP voting -- to pull a Kevin Durant and seek a trade from Philadelphia.

So much for "The Process" era in the City of Brotherly Love.

Referencing Embiid, Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Inquirer recently wrote, "It feels like we are watching the end. Processors, enjoy these final few days. A wasted decade is about to come to a merciful end." 

In August 2021, Embiid signed a four-year, $196 million supermax extension, but that shouldn't hold back the seven-footer. 

Philadelphia is 40-21, good for third place in the East behind Boston and Milwaukee, but repeated playoff failures under coach Doc Rivers have doomed the team.

In NBA history, 13 teams have returned from a 3-1 deficit in the playoffs to win a series. Three of those debacles have occurred under the watch of Rivers -- the only coach to blow a 3-1 lead more than once. 

Rivers only has a job because of his ring as head coach with the Boston. He needed a superteam to win a championship with the Celtics in 2008.

Franchises continue to give Rivers opportunities despite his obvious shortcomings. He's a terrible playoff coach, unable to adjust when matched up against great teams. 

76ers star James Harden, who could become a free agent after the season, is linked to a possible reunion with the Houston Rockets this summer. In late December, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski wrote: "Despite forcing his way out of the Rockets in January 2021, Harden has maintained something of a magnetic pull to Houston, drawn to the community, lifestyle and family there." 

If Harden were to leave, Philly's second-best player tag would fall to either Tyrese Maxey or Tobias Harris, neither of whom is an adequate second option for a team with championship aspirations.

If the 76ers fail to make the conference finals again, things could get extremely messy in Philly.

Rather than sticking it out, as superstar Damian Lillard has in Portland, Embiid should ask for a trade to a contending team with a better coach.