When he’s healthy, there’s a very real case that Joel Embiid is the best player in the world.
He’s a two-time scoring champ and won MVP in 2023. The Philadelphia 76ers were quick to make him the franchise centerpiece, and with seven All-Star nods under his belt, it’s safe to say he’s earned the title.
However, injuries have piled up. It’s unclear just how long he will be out, and fans are unsure if he will ever be a productive player again. He’s only 31 years old, so it’s not an unreasonable assumption that he will recover, but Embiid’s track record is spotty.
Under contract for four more seasons, the 76ers might be inclined to cut ties with him and build around Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and VJ Edgecombe.
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 2: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Joel Embiid #21 during a timeout in the game against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on November 2, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Mock Trade Sends Joel Embiid to Chicago Bulls
Maybe, for the 76ers, it would be best to cut their losses.
Embiid has shown time and time again that he is not reliable enough to lead a team deep into the postseason. Perhaps the Chicago Bulls would bite in trade talks, desperate to add their first true superstar since Derrick Rose’s flash in the pan.
BleacherReport’s Andy Bailey devised a mock trade on October 9 that would send Embiid to the Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vučević, Zach Collins, rookie Noa Essengue, and a 2029 first-round pick.
For the Sixers, they get a clear downgrade in talent but a strong boost in availability. Vučević has appeared in at least 70 games in each of the last five seasons and is a capable, offensive-minded starter. Collins, meanwhile, is a solid backup.
Essengue is a jumbo wing who would fit in excellently next to the 76ers’ young guards, assuming he lives up to his potential.
The Bulls, meanwhile, refuse to embrace a tank. A lineup of Josh Giddey, Coby White, Isaac Okoro, and Matas Buzelis, with Embiid down low, should be able to compete for home court advantage in the playoffs. However, that all depends on Embiid’s health, which is exactly what the Sixers’ postseason hopes hinge on.
Joel Embiid’s Value Has Tanked
Between 2017 and 2023, trading Embiid would have been unthinkable. He was one of the best players in the entire world and elevated the 76ers from a ten-win team in 2016 to a real contender.
It’s worth noting that Embiid is only a year older than Giannis Antetokounmpo. Both are elite on both ends of the floor, both should still be in their prime, and both are MVPs. However, trade talks for the Greek Freak start with a war chest of draft picks.
Essengue is brimming with talent, but there was a reason he fell to 12th overall despite some top-ten projections. He is raw. Add in Vučević and Collins for salary matching, and the Sixers would only take back a single first-rounder in the deal.
Four years ago, Embiid would have commanded one of the biggest hauls of all time. Now, after a ruined season and a disappointing summer, it’s hard to call the mock trade a blockbuster.
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