Going into this offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers will have some paramount decisions to make. Reports have circulated that Daryl Morey and Nick Nurse's jobs are safe, but that doesn't rule out other changes.
Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey predicts that the 76ers will trade Joel Embiid to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart, a 2027 first-round pick and a lottery-protected 2029 first-round pick.
"Given his injury history and what now appears to be chronic knee problems, that amount of money and years could doom the Philadelphia 76ers' team-building abilities for the foreseeable future. So, Philly should be open to moving Embiid to any team that might be willing to take that deal of its hands, and the Washington Wizards might be uniquely positioned to take that flier," Bailey wrote.
If the 76ers decide to pursue a trade involving Embiid, there won't be many teams willing to take on his $192 million contract, especially with his durability concerns. Bailey suggests a team like Washington would be willing to do so due to not being anywhere near a championship contender and willing to take a risk on a star while the rest of the team improves.
"Regardless of who Washington gets in the draft, it isn't likely to be competing for titles in the near future. So, it can maybe risk more injuries and unavailability from Embiid while the rest of the roster develops," Bailey added.
With positive news coming from Philadelphia that Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey will be healthy for next season, it is unlikely the 76ers entertain a trade for Embiid. If Embiid can recover from this surgery and get back to the MVP-level he was at just two years ago, Philadelphia wants to make sure it's with them and not with another team they traded him to for lesser value.
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