The latest Joel Embiid trade idea is the kind that stops you in your tracks, not because it feels close to reality, but because it asks a brutal question about where the Philadelphia 76ers are headed next.
FanSided’s Eamon Cassels floated a deal that would send Embiid and a 2029 Los Angeles Clippers first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, and Corey Kispert. On paper, it’s a massive swing for Atlanta and a tiny return for a former MVP. That’s why the whole proposal hinges on one thing: whether the Sixers are ready to move on from their injury-plagued star.
Philadelphia has already been living in the rumor mill for weeks. The team finished 7th in the East at 45-37 last season, then got swept by the New York Knicks in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
In response, the Sixers made a blockbuster move to land Jaylen Brown and have also been linked to LeBron James in free agency. Embiid has stayed in the center of the speculation too, with rumors tying him to the Dallas Mavericks or even a possible swap with the Wizards for Anthony Davis.
Atlanta’s side of the story is just as unsettled. The Hawks went 46-36, grabbed the sixth seed in the East, and were also bounced by the Knicks in the first round.
They’re still sorting out their direction after trading Trae Young at last season’s deadline. Jalen Johnson is now the primary star, but the roster still doesn’t feature a true superstar, and the offseason additions haven’t exactly changed that.
From Philadelphia’s perspective, the package simply doesn’t look big enough for Embiid unless the front office believes the injury concerns are only going to get worse as he moves deeper into his 30s. That’s the only way this kind of deal even starts to make sense.
Daniels would be the headliner coming back. The 23-year-old has already built a reputation as one of the league’s top perimeter defenders, with two All-Defensive Team selections.
He averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists last season while shooting 51.7% from the field. His four-year, $100 million extension begins next season, with an annual salary of $25 million.
Risacher brings upside rather than certainty. The former No. 1 overall pick put up 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 45.5% from the field and 36.8% from three-point range. He’s only 21, still on his rookie deal, and is set to make $13.8 million next season before a $17.4 million team option for 2027-28.
Kispert would give the Sixers a more immediate shooting boost. He averaged 10.2 points while shooting 45.0% from the field and 35.4% from deep. His four-year, $54 million extension includes $13.9 million next season, $13 million in 2027-28, and a $13 million team option for 2028-29.
For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious: they’d be getting the best player in the deal by a wide margin. When healthy, Embiid is one of the most overwhelming offensive forces in basketball. Even though injuries limited him to 38 games last season, he still averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while shooting 48.9% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
The problem, of course, is availability. Embiid’s contract makes the risk even bigger. His three-year, $187 million extension starts next season, and the money ramps up fast: $52.9 million in 2026-27, $62.6 million in 2027-28, and a $67.2 million player option for 2028-29.
That’s a huge bet for a player who has had trouble staying on the floor in recent years. Atlanta would be giving up depth in Daniels, Risacher, and Kispert, and there’s no guarantee Embiid would be healthy enough to justify the gamble.
For the Sixers, the only real argument for saying yes is risk management. They’d be turning one giant contract and all the uncertainty that comes with it into three younger players on more manageable deals.
But even then, the value still doesn’t line up. Three role players don’t come close to matching a healthy Embiid, and if Philadelphia ever seriously considers moving its franchise cornerstone, the asking price would almost certainly involve multiple first-round picks.
So as a real trade, this doesn’t hold up. As a thought exercise, it tells you exactly how complicated Embiid’s future has become.
Atlanta would probably jump at the chance. Philadelphia, though, would be wise to demand far more than this.
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