A new front-runner has emerged to land Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid if the struggling Eastern Conference club decides to trade away its franchise player.
The 76ers enter Wednesday with a 2-11 record, tied with the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the conference. Joel Embiid, of course, has been limited to just three games because of injury and suspension for shoving a Philadelphia reporter.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that Tyrese Maxey “challenged Embiid to be on time to team activities” during a team meeting. With tensions rising in Philly, some fans wonder if the 76ers may eventually decide to tade the 2023 league MVP.
According to the Bovada sportsbook, the Indiana Pacers are the new betting favorites to acquire Joel Embiid in a blockbuster trade at +200. They’re followed by the New York Knicks (+300) and Brooklyn Nets (+350).
Interestingly, LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers (+750) were listed as a long shot.
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The 76ers entered 2024-25 with championship expectations, having signed perennial All-Star Paul George in free agency. But with Embiid, Maxey and George combining to play just 17 games thus far, Nick Nurse’s squad has looked nothing like a playoff team in the early going.
Fortunately for Philly, the East has been a disaster thus far. Only the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks boast winning records. The 76ers are just three games out of a play-in spot and four games out of the No. 5 seed.
76ers Won’t Shop Joel Embiid…Yet
The 76ers have invested too many resources around Embiid, and it’s simply not the time to consider trading the franchise star. Philly can take inspiration from the 2022-23 Miami Heat, who barely snuck into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed after a disappointing regular season.
Jimmy Butler and company got healthy, though, and made a surprise run to the NBA Finals. The 76ers won’t challenge for the top seed in the East, but they can still make a championship run if their “big three” stays healthy.
Also Read: 76ers Star Joel Embiid Claps Back At Recent Criticism That He Doesn’t Want To Play
