https://www.si.com/nba/2023/10/24/76ers-knicks-joel-embiid-trade-offer-report-newsSays that Leon Rose would do whatever basically it takes to get Embiid , basically "Randle, RJ Barret, Fournier, & Mitchell Robinson", a trio of that group in exchange for Embiid, 'paired with two or three first-round-picks'"
If they made it like those Harden-style trades - what did Brooklyn give up, was it 4 unprotected 1st-Round Picks & 4 Pick-Swaps? If NY did that , I'd consider it ... we're not unfortunately ever going to win with Embiid. We had a chance in 2019 when it was Simmons/Redick/Butler/Harris/Embiid ... and maybe we had a chance when Harden showed up and was at first super-energized to be a playmaker ... but it's basically over. We're not going to get anything close to a return on investment for Harden , and I hate to say it but since the last decade or so ...
-We drafted Nerlens Noel and basically gave him away. We drafted MCW and gave away for a pick that we basically wasted TWICE.
-We drafted Embiid after losing out on Winless-for-Wiggins and drafted Dario.
-We drafted a third C in Jahlil Okafor after losing out on KAT & Russell (both of whom would have been franchise-altering players ) and whom we basically gave away.
-We drafted Ben Simmons who never wanted to play for us, refused to consider any playing concept or position other than him being a 7ft not-physically-able-to-shoot PG. And who quit - literally refused to play - for us, thus necessity of trading him away, with additional assets including multiple 1st-Round Picks.
-We drafted Markelle Fultz , sacrificing significant assets / draft capital , to bring in another PG who suddenly was not physically able to shoot and no longer wanted to play for us, thus requiring us to give him away.
-We draft local star Mikal Bridges, only to humiliate him and his Mom and family by immediately trading him away, for a player who basically never played for us, we almost killed, and had to give away.
-We wind up trading for Matisse Thybulle, who becomes the league's premier wing defender, whom we then give away.
-We draft the steal-of-the-draft & future star Tyrese Maxey, whom Doc Rivers refuses to start after he shows star status & potential, and whom we're surely gonna wind up just giving away ...
-We draft former 5-Star & Top-20 Overall recruit Jaden Springer, whom we don't play, like at all, and whom we're surely gonna wind up just giving away ...
-We draft some dude that we promptly give away.
-We pretty much sit out the most recent draft because of giving everything away.
Now we have All-NBA Superstar C Joel Embiid, with significant salary and yet significant injury history and possible Popeye Syndrome ("This business has got out of control and it's All He Can Stands & Can't Stands No More!!!" ... We have a former All-NBA Superstar showing significant signs of regress and , incidentally, refuses to play for us and considers our GM to be his mortal enemy.... we have a hugely overpaid and disrespected Forward that could be the perfect compliment to a few stars of a Championship team but ain't gonna do anything on his own, a Star in the making Guard, and role players / pieces. No future draft picks, no salary relief, and very little chance to actually win a Championship.
So forgive me if I say, let's OKC it , trade Embiid to NYC for the Sun, Moon, & Stars and let him compete on the world's biggest market ... trade Harden for the highest package possible, start an immediate rebuild based on Maxey, with Springer a hopeful compliment and Tobias Harris the elder statesmen and veteran in the room for one year until his contract runs out, and start an aggressive rebuild next offseason, flush with salary cap space, draft assets, and smart planning. It sucks be we have to do it, the last decade has just been one of the most mismanaged pro-sports-stories in the history of The Big 4 pro sports in North America.