Two teams facing a ton of questions this summer are the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors. The 76ers were up 3-2 against the Boston Celtics in the second round of the playoffs but somehow lost Game 6 and Game 7 in disappointing fashion. Of course, the rumors of James Harden leaving Philly and returning back to Houston are very real, and there is a possibility that the center will be left stranded with the 76ers. Without the NBA’s assist leader and his coach Doc Rivers, Embiid could be unnerved by the time the preseason rolls around. In fact, the center is already upset over the loss of Doc Rivers because they were apparently very close.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors also lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Los Angeles Lakers and the leader of the team Draymond Green openly admitted the team was not a title contender. In actuality, Draymond might have had something to do with it negatively because Steve Kerr made it clear Draymond’s punch might have 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed chemistry. Whatever the reasons are, the Warriors were an average basketball team all year, ranking 21st in OPPG and 17th in defensive rating. The Warriors need to add a legitimate superstar and their saviors might be the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid.
In a massive blockbuster deal, the 76ers and Warriors can engage in a trade that sends the 2023 league MVP to Golden State for a package that includes Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, the 2023 first-round pick, and a 2025 first-round pick.
Warriors Land Joel Embiid In A Blockbuster Scenario Of The Summer
Credit: Fadeaway World
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, 2023 First-Round Pick, 2025 First-Round Pick
Golden State Warriors Receive: Joel Embiid
No doubt, a deal of this magnitude would only help both teams and this is the case. The 76ers rebuild without having to pay James Harden a $200 million contract, along with dealing with an unhappy and injury-prone star in Joel Embiid. Rather, Poole, Wiggins, and the two first-round picks kickstart a rebuild with Wiggins, another valuable trade asset. Meanwhile, the Warriors acquire arguably the best center in the world to form a dominant Big Three with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and the incoming Joel Embiid.
Philadelphia Rebuilds In A Smart Way
A player with Joel Embiid’s s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 would be untouchable in almost any circumstance. But the Philadelphia 76ers are not looking too great right now and will not convince anyone that they are legitimate title contenders if James Harden departs for Houston. Embiid is the main guy on the team, and he won the 2023 MVP award because of his dominance with the 76ers. If the Warriors swoop in and offer two first-round picks with Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, and Jonathan Kuminga, Philly might take a look but probably won’t pull the deal.
Jordan Poole has emerged as a promising guard in his fourth season in the league, averaging 20.4 PPG despite getting assaulted by his own teammate during the preseason. He would provide the 76ers with a much-needed scoring punch off the bench and could eventually develop into the long-term All-Star option alongside Tyrese Maxey. Andrew Wiggins, a former No. 1 overall pick, has also improved his game, averaging 17.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 2.3 APG on 47.3% shooting from the field. He would give the 76ers another versatile wing player who can score and defend at a high level. Finally, Jonathan Kuminga is a highly-touted youngster who has shown flashes of his potential in limited minutes. He is a strong defender with great athleticism and has the potential to develop into a star in the league. The 76ers would benefit from having a young player with such a high ceiling on their roster for the long term.
Of course, the first-round picks will be necessary to rebuild around Maxey, Poole, and Kuminga because building through the draft and trusting the “Process” could be an excellent way to get back on top in the future. The “process” yielded Joel Embiid and a focused Ben Simmons at one point, so there is no reason to believe it can’t be done again. Whoever the new coach is can build around Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, three picks, and Kuminga. Losing the league MVP is never easy, but a package of two picks and three new players makes sense. The new cornerstone of the franchise becomes Tyrese Maxey, Jordan Poole, and Jonathan Kuminga, while the first-round picks create a new rebuild. But no doubt, it is obvious who wins this deal.
Golden State Wins The 2024 Championship With Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson would be almost unfair. The center averaged 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 1.7 BPG this season already and finally tasted individual victory with the MVP award. Embiid can do it all on both ends of the floor, especially when surrounded by arguably the two greatest shooters of all time. Even if Golden State throws everything at the trade offer table, it could be difficult to acquire arguably the best center in the game. But if it happens, book the Warriors to win it all this year.
The Golden State Warriors will have to change their philosophy if they do acquire Joel Embiid. With a dominant big man down low, the team must let him eat. Curry is unselfish enough to feed him down low and will be willing to do so, especially since Wiggins and Poole will no longer be beside him. But Curry and Embiid become one of the best little-big duos in NBA history on the offensive side of the floor because neither player can be stopped in single coverage. With Klay spotting up as the third option and Draymond remaining, the Warriors would be highly dominant. With MVP candidate Joel Embiid on the floor, Golden State becomes the favorites to win it all, with Curry, Klay, Kuminga, Draymond, and Embiid occupying the starting five.
Draymond would be willing to accept whatever reasonable deal the Warriors offer to complete an iconic starting lineup with Golden State. The All-Star forward has made it clear that he wants to retire as a Golden State Warrior, so this could be his chance to play the hustle and defensive role alongside three other superstar players.
Philly Gets Rid Of A Problem, Warriors Become Title-Favorites
The Philadelphia 76ers might have a problem if James Harden leaves and Doc Rivers is no longer on the sidelines. Joel Embiid won’t want to play with just Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris alongside him because he knows that won’t get it done in terms of winning NBA championships. It requires much more than an All-Star and two talented players to win it all, as seen in recent history with the Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Lakers. Instead of hoping Embiid is patient through a rebuild and actually stays healthy as he did for most of the year in 2023, the Sixers could pull the trigger on a deal to actually kickstart a rebuild.
Embiid has only played at least 65 games in two seasons so far in his career, both coming in the past two seasons. The superstar center finished runner-up to the MVP award last year and won it this year, so clearly when he is healthy, he is dominant. The prospect of maximizing the big man’s trade yield makes perfect sense for the 76ers, as they can add three talented players and two first-round picks immediately. Of course, getting rid of Tobias Harris would be the next-best option for the team. Maxey had a quietly great season this year, posting 20.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 3.5 APG on 48.1% shooting from the field, 43.4% from three, and 84.5% from the free-throw line despite being the third option.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors become the favorites to win it all. Assuming Draymond Green won’t be let go for anything and will be re-signed, the starting lineup is too good. Joel Embiid would be an excellent fit alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on the Golden State Warriors. As a dominant center, Embiid would provide the Warriors with a much-needed inside presence that they have been lacking since the departure of Kevin Durant and the decline of Draymond Green’s scoring ability. Embiid’s scoring ability would also allow Curry and Thompson to play more off-ball, maximizing their 3-point shooting abilities.
The big man would also draw double teams in the paint, giving Curry and Thompson more open looks from beyond the arc. Additionally, Embiid’s ability to create his own shot and draw fouls would provide the team with another option for crunch-time scoring in close games. Defensively, Embiid would also be a significant addition to the Warriors. His size and strength would make him an imposing force inside the paint, making it difficult for opposing teams to score easy points in the paint. His shot-blocking ability would also create more transition opportunities for the Warriors. This is a rare deal that works for both teams, especially the Golden State Warriors, who could go on to win the title in the 2023-24 NBA season.
