Grade The Blockbuster Trade: Warriors Land Joel Embiid In A Brilliant Mock Trade

Warriors could land Joel Embiid in a blockbuster trade

Warriors have enough assets to execute the deal of the summer

Joel Embiid could finally win a title

The Golden State Warriors have one primary goal right now, and that is to try and win during the Stephen Curry era, as the superstar is still playing at an MVP level. Many people consider him to be a top-3 player in the league today, and for good reason.

What wins championships in the league today is talent and superstars, and there is no doubt that the Golden State Warriors are a team that has the assets to execute a blockbuster trade. Perhaps a player the team could target is Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid. The 76ers have not made the Conference Finals during Embiid’s tenure, and perhaps it is time for them to reset. Here is a potential trade framework.

Golden State Warriors Receive: Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, 2027 First-Round Pick (GSW), 2029 First-Round Pick (GSW)

This deal could potentially be good for both teams involved, and depending on how the summer unfolds, both teams could have motivations to do something with this framework. Here is why both the Warriors and the 76ers should consider making this blockbuster trade.

Joel Embiid And Stephen Curry Would Be A Dynamic Duo

There is no doubt that Joel Embiid is a top-10 player in the league today, and he just had an MVP season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Embiid notably won the scoring title, averaging 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 4.2 RPG. He is an elite scorer in the interior and has some 3PT and midrange ability as well. In theory, he could be a great fit for the Golden State Warriors.

The addition of Joel Embiid would give the Golden State Warriors another dimension to their offense, and that is the ability to score effectively on the interior. Throughout their dynastic run, the team has been a jump-shooting-reliant team. Though that approach has won them multiple championships, perhaps diversifying their offense could help them win more titles and extend their run. Klay Thompson’s inconsistency was on display in the 2023 playoffs, particularly against the Los Angeles Lakers. Joel Embiid would give the team another elite scorer, and he is a player that can help carry the offense and take some of the pressure off of Stephen Curry.

Joel Embiid is also a good rim protector, and there is no doubt that he and Draymond Green would become one of the best defensive frontcourts in the league. Though Kevon Looney does well on the defensive end, there’s no doubt that Embiid is an upgrade in that department. His overall size and frame would also help the team improve in the rebounding department.

Though the Golden State Warriors would have to give up a good amount of depth by sending out Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II, and Kevon Looney, the upside would absolutely be worth it. There is no doubt that Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid is enough talent to win a title, and this would be Embiid’s first chance at a realistic deep postseason run. The superstar has already said he wants to win a championship, even if it is outside of the Philadelphia 76ers, and teaming up with Stephen Curry is definitely a way to make that happen.

The Philadelphia 76ers Would Be Able To Rebuild And Enter A New Era

At this point, it is fair for the Philadelphia 76ers to wonder if Joel Embiid can truly be a No. 1 option on a championship-level team. Perhaps it would be best for the team to trade him, given their situation. James Harden already wants to leave, and the team is clearly not going to be competitive without him. Joel Embiid’s value is extremely high right now, and trading him could get the team a huge return.

The Golden State Warriors’ package would be headlined by two-way star Andrew Wiggins, who was a key part of the team’s 2022 championship-winning team. Wiggins is a great player who can guard opposing stars, while also providing complementary offense. The other key draw with this deal is acquiring Jonathan Kuminga, who is a power forward that has shown he can thrive in a bigger role. Kuminga averages 12.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 2.3 APG as a starter for the Warriors, and that number could potentially get even higher with a bigger role.

Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II aren’t exactly star-level players, but they are solid defensive veterans who can play key roles on a competitive roster. The Philadelphia 76ers could also trade them down the line in other deals. On top of the player returns in this move, the 76ers would get two first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, with those picks likely to be valuable.

Ultimately, this trade package would give the Philadelphia 76ers a solid starting point for a retool/rebuild. They would also be able to do right by Joel Embiid and send him to a competitive team.

This Trade Would Shake Up The League

There is no doubt that two top-10 players together make for a scary team, and that is exactly what the Golden State Warriors would be if they were to acquire Joel Embiid. They would definitely become the favorite to win it all in the Western Conference. The current Golden State Warriors team does not have the firepower to compete with powerhouses such as the Phoenix Suns or the Denver Nuggets, though it is quite likely that changes with Joel Embiid’s addition.

It will be interesting to see if the Warriors would ever call about Joel Embiid. Though they would have to move a few key players to get a deal done, Joel Embiid is the type of player you get at any cost. The 76ers have not made Joel Embiid available in a trade yet, but anything can happen in the future.