This proposed trade moves Joel Embiid to the Miami Heat.
The Philadelphia 76ers have been in a consistent state of turmoil this season, ever since the James Harden trade request. At this point, it seems unlikely that he will come back and play for the team, and James Harden getting moved could only be the first domino to fall.
As of now, Joel Embiid has not requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. However, it is possible that will happen at some point in the future, especially if Embiid doesn’t believe that the team can compete for a championship next season. One potential trade suitor for Embiid could be the Miami Heat, who have been in the hunt for a superstar. Here is a potential trade scenario:
Miami Heat Receive: Joel Embiid, Furkan Korkmaz,
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, 2027 First-Round Pick (MIA), 2029 First-Round Pick (MIA)
This trade would get the Miami Heat an MVP-level player that can help them win a championship next season. Meanwhile, the 76ers would get a solid package for their franchise superstar. Here is why both teams should consider making this deal.
Joel Embiid And Jimmy Butler Are A Championship-Caliber Duo
Joel Embiid is clearly a top-tier superstar, but the Philadelphia 76ers have done a relatively poor job of building around him thus far. The best team that they had from a talent standpoint was the 2018-19 squad, which coincidentally featured Jimmy Butler. This trade would allow the Miami Heat to re-unite the duo, which is clearly good enough to win a championship since both players are widely considered to be among the top 10 in the league.
This past season, Joel Embiid averaged 33.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game for the Philadelphia 76ers, winning the scoring title. He is one of the most versatile scorers in the league and is also an elite rim protector on the defensive end of the floor. There are few players that can stop him in isolation, and with Jimmy Butler also commanding some of the defense’s attention, Embiid would have a much easier time scoring.
To get Embiid, the Miami Heat would have to give up some young prospects and draft picks to help the Philadelphia 76ers rebuild. The key loss for them, however, would be All-Star Bam Adebayo, who has anchored the team’s defense for their two Finals runs in 2020 and 2023. It is definitely a risk to give up such a talented defensive player, who has been consistently elite at guarding all kinds of players in the postseason. However, all championship-level teams take risks, and sometimes, you have to give up a good player to get an even better player.
There is no doubt that Joel Embiid could be a huge difference-maker for the Miami Heat. The team definitely has the package to land him from an asset standpoint, and it’ll be interesting to see if Embiid goes to Miami in the future.
The Philadelphia 76ers Start A Rebuild Around Bam Adebayo And Tyrese Maxey
If the Philadelphia 76ers are trading Joel Embiid, then it is clear that the plan is to rebuild. However, that might not be a bad thing from the team’s perspective. Joel Embiid is the only MVP winner to never make the Conference Finals, and it is clear that the team has had limited playoff success with him. Now is the time to trade him, as his value is at its highest after an MVP-level year.
The key return for the team is Bam Adebayo, who is one of the best defenders in the league. Adebayo is one of the only players that can effectively guard all five positions and is clearly good enough to anchor a top-tier defense. Offensively, he is a solid playmaker and is deadly in transition, though his scoring needs a little bit more consistency. This past season, Bam Adebayo put up 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 75 games.
On top of adding an All-Star caliber player, the Philadelphia 76ers would add two prospects in Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic. Jaquez Jr. in particular has a lot of defensive potential, and his feel for the game was consistently on display at UCLA. If he improves his jump shot, he could be a quality 3 and D wing. On top of the two prospects, the Philadelphia 76ers would also get two first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, which are likely to be valuable since they will be conveyed outside of the Miami Heat’s current window of contention.
As far as rebuilds go, having Tyrese Maxey, Bam Adebayo and a good amount of picks is far from the worst start. The team would get even more assets by trading James Harden on top of that. The resulting team would have a bright future, and could even be a play-in tournament team in the present. Though no trade for Joel Embiid is imminent, there are clearly ways to get good value for him and have a solid roster once the MVP is moved.
Joel Embiid Can Help The Miami Heat Win A Championship
The Miami Heat are a team that has a track record of success, but their last championship was won in 2013. Now is the time for the team to push their chips in while Jimmy Butler is still playing at a high level, and pair him with another superstar like Joel Embiid who can help him win a championship.
As for the Philadelphia 76ers, the clock is clearly ticking on this iteration of the team. Perhaps it is time to get ahead of the curve and try to create the foundation for a true championship-level team. Tyrese Maxey and Bam Adebayo are young enough to lead the next era of Philadelphia 76era basketball, and they are both solid players who still have untapped potential.
If Joel Embiid does request a trade, the Miami Heat are clearly a team where he can win at the highest level. Hopefully, he ends up landing there in the future, but as of right now, no trade is imminent.