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If the James Harden saga ends with a trade, it could be a huge domino to fall for an inevitable trade request from reigning MVP Joel Embiid.
The 29-year-old center’s prime is ticking away, so it’s only natural to assume he’d at least consider a fresh start from the Philadelphia 76ers. In the event Embiid eventually asks out, the Bleacher Report NBA staff conjured up mock trades the Sixers could make for his services.
One team mentioned is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are swimming in young talent and draft picks. This would make OKC one of the more ideal trade partners for the Sixers if they decide to undergo a rebuild.
OKC’s trade package centers around 2022 No.2 pick Chet Holmgren and several draft picks.
- Thunder receive: Joel Embiid
- Sixers receive: Chet Holmgren, Victor Oladipo, Dāvis Bertāns, Isaiah Joe, 2024 first-round pick, 2025 first-round pick (via PHI), 2026 first-round pick (via LAC), 2024 second-round pick (via HOU), 2025 second-round pick (via PHI), 2030 second-round pick (via Rockets)
Bleacher Report’s justification for the trade is that OKC finally decided to go all in on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and their core by upgrading the center position with a ready-now top-10 player in his prime.
“The Thunder already have an All-NBA first-teamer in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the most enormous war chest of draft picks in league history and several exciting young players like Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
Holmgren missed his initial rookie year with a foot injury. While he may grow into a highly productive big man, Joel Embiid is one of the two best centers in the NBA.”
While it might be a bitter pill to swallow to trade away the crown jewel of OKC’s rebuild in terms of draft capital, this is probably a realistic package of what it would take to land Embiid.
The fact Embiid is under contract for at least three more seasons plus a player option makes it easier to stomach though, as he would theoretically spend the rest of his prime in OKC.
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