After a disappointing exit in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers must focus on acquiring the right pieces this offseason.
The thought of trading Joel Embiid seems a bit crazy, but it is not an option to take off the table. Clearly, Embiid has demonstrated he is the heart & soul of the Sixers organization.
He is a 6x All-Star and earned his first Most Valuable Player award this season, but his regular season play is not the same in the postseason.
In fact, Embiid averaged 33.1 PPG in the 2023 regular season, yet in the playoffs, he totaled 23.7 PPG. According to ESPN Stats & Info, this is the biggest drop-off by an MVP in the league’s history.
Furthermore, the possibility of his star partner (James Harden) leaving the Sixers seems more likely than ever.
Philadelphia doesn’t have much draft capital to offer, but one major trading chip the team can offer is Tobias Harris.
John Collins
For quite some time, Collins has been connected to trade rumors.
Despite the tension between Collins and Embiid, the two would perfectly fit the frontcourt.
In recent years, Collins has thrived on the defensive end with an elite defensive center beside him. Clint Capela anchored the Atlanta Hawks’ defense allowing Collins to be matched up evenly. This will be the same case in Philadelphia as Collins will not be dominated by true big men with Embiid at the 5.
On the other end of the floor, Collins can attack the rim and improve the offensive rebounding. Playing a small-ball lineup can space the floor and create more offensive opportunities.
If Collins slides into the 4, P.J. Tucker will be shifted to the bench and play fewer minutes. This can be a relief for Sixers fans since Tucker is a leader on this team but doesn’t put up eye-opening numbers on the box score. Over time he can form into an Andre Iguodala role on the 76ers bench.
Buddy Hield
If one thing is for sure, the Embiid-Harden pick and roll is a force to be reckoned with. But, with the possibility of James Harden leaving the Sixers this offseason, it may be time to find a replacement.
The idea of pairing Joel Embiid with an elite shooter can reveal in tons of success. Hield was second in the NBA with 288 three-pointers made. Defenders can attempt to put a hand in his face, but Hield can drain shots effortlessly around the 3-point line.
Besides his shooting ability, Hield doesn’t stand out anywhere else, but he’s a massive threat to defenders.
This would leave opponents with a troubling decision. If Buddy Hield and Joel Embiid play together and defenders double-team Embiid it will result in a true shooter being wide-open. Hield’s shooting numbers can skyrocket in Philadelphia if defenses solely focus on the 2023 MVP winner.
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RobertGrace
May 25, 2023 at 10:15 AM
If you want to trade Embiid you might just give the team away too while you at it, because you really not interested in winning anything