The 76ers have already made their big offseason swing, and that alone makes the idea of another seismic move feel unlikely. Philadelphia doesn’t exactly have a clean path to another blockbuster anyway, and there’s not much reason to start shaking up a roster that hasn’t even had a chance to take shape. On paper, the Sixers look like one of the clear favorites to come out of the East.
Still, Bill Simmons has thrown out a wild one: the possibility of Philadelphia trading Joel Embiid.
Simmons recently teased the idea that the 76ers’ front office could move the former MVP, even after the team’s acquisition of Jaylen Brown raised the ceiling in a major way. It’s a dramatic scenario, and one that feels far-fetched right now, but it is at least a path that technically remains open for the front office.
There’s also the obvious wrinkle that Simmons is a notorious Celtics superfan, so his theory may not be coming from a neutral place. Even so, Philadelphia’s new-look leadership has already shown a willingness to make massive changes, which is why the idea can’t be dismissed entirely out of hand. In that version of events, the supposed core four of Embiid, Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe would end up as little more than a what-if.
The reality, though, points in the other direction. Embiid missed a significant stretch last season, but when he was on the floor, he still made a huge impact. He was the driving force behind Philadelphia’s first-round playoff series win, the one that knocked out a Celtics team that had already built a 3-1 lead.
That kind of production is why the likeliest outcome remains the simplest one: the 76ers stick with Embiid and see how their new nucleus comes together, especially with the superstar center healthier this offseason. Simmons’ trade idea is much more speculative than practical.
At most, Philadelphia would probably do little more than kick the tires and gather information on the possibility. Right now, the 76ers are the only team that really makes sense for Embiid, and his massive contract makes the idea of a real market for him hard to take seriously.
In Other News...
Sixers Just Made A Frontcourt Move Fans Have Been Waiting On
The 76ers added another frontcourt body on July 6, signing center Ariel Hukporti, according to a team press release. The 7-foot big man arrives after spending last season with the Knicks, where he got into 54 games and was part of their playoff rotation during a run that carried into the postseason.
For Philadelphia, the move is another look at a young center who has already logged meaningful NBA minutes after coming over from overseas and being drafted in 2024. The club did not disclose the terms of the deal, leaving the bigger question on how Hukporti fits into the Sixers frontcourt mix as they continue sorting out depth and size. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Suddenly Face A Nick Nurse Question With Labaron Philon Jr
The Sixers backcourt picture changed again with the addition of Anfernee Simons, and it puts rookie Labaron Philon Jr. in an interesting spot as training camp approaches. Philon is expected to be part of the regular rotation, and his fit matters because Philadelphia is trying to sort out how much creation, pace and ballhandling it can get from its guard group without losing too much on the other end.
Nick Nurses preferences will loom over those decisions, because the Sixers have to balance what Simons brings offensively with what Philon can offer as a young guard who already plays with a polished feel. Philons style also invites the inevitable Tyrese Maxey comparison, since both attack off the dribble and thrive on speed changes, but the bigger question for Philadelphia is how Nurse values those traits when minutes start getting carved up. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Just Put The 76ers Title Push In A Tough Spot
The 76ers spent the offseason chasing a bigger ceiling, and the addition of Jaylen Brown gives them another proven scorer to slot alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. On paper, it is the kind of move that can push a contender closer to the top of the East, but it also changes the shape of the offense in a real way, because Brown has long been at his best when he can create his own looks and attack without waiting for the play to come to him.
Now Philadelphia has Brown, Embiid, Maxey and VJ Edgecombe all needing touches in the same starting group, which is where the fit gets tricky. The 76ers have already learned how awkward it can be when high-usage players are asked to shrink their roles, and Nick Nurse and his staff will have to sort through those on-ball responsibilities before the season starts if this lineup is going to work the way the front office imagined. [Read more 🡒]