Joel Embiid sends blunt message to 76ers ahead of trade deadline

Joel Embiid likes his team's chances of competing for a championship in 2026. With the Feb. 5 trade deadline quickly approaching, the star big man didn't mince words with his advice for the Philadelphia 76ers front office. 

When asked about the trade deadline after Philadelphia's 113-111 win against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, Embiid urged the Sixers to keep this team together for the rest of the season.

"In the past we've been ducking the tax, so hopefully we think about improving [the team at the deadline], because we got a chance," Embiid said, per Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports. "I hope that at least we get a chance to just go out and compete, because we got a good group of guys in this locker room, and the vibes are great."

The tax Embiid referenced is the NBA luxury tax, which penalizes teams for exceeding a set payroll threshold. The threshold for the 2025-26 season is set at $187.895M, putting the Sixers $7.1M above the line with the trade deadline less than a week away. If the 76ers stand pat, they would have to pay around $7.5M in taxes for being above the threshold. 

In recent years, Philadelphia has made trade deadline moves specifically focused on getting under the luxury tax threshold. Daryl Morey, Philadelphia's president of basketball operations, will need to shed a few contracts to get below the threshold. If you ask Embiid, though, that shouldn't be the 76ers' main objective at the deadline. 

Joel Embiid believes in this 76ers team