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The 76ers Would Be Out of Their Minds to Trade Joel Embiid as Silly Rumors Circulate

By Evan Wolff

Joel Embiid is currently averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds per game. He contract runs until 2023.
Joel Embiid is currently averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds per game. He contract runs until 2023. / Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

To be an NBA superstar is to be the constant subject of rumors surrounding every aspect of your life. But most notably the chatter focuses on trade and free agency buzz. Often times, the rumors will be squashed immediately, with no basis to back them up. Life goes on and nothing momentous actually happens.

That is, unless that team is in a state of disarray. The 76ers are somewhat of an example of that, and in recent weeks, Joel Embiid has been viewed as a potential trade candidate for Philly once the offseason hits as displeasure among the fanbase has persisted. To be clear, this is merely unsubstantiated chatter.

Yes, the 76ers have performed below expectations, and there's a lot of pressure for the talent on this roster to be maximized. Why then would one of the most talented players on the roster be dangled in trade talks? It makes no sense.

It seems Embiid is the scapegoat for a lot of the team's issues for whatever reason. Ben Simmons has yet to evolve his game despite being arguably the most athletic player in the NBA. Al Horford has been a disappointing signing and clearly doesn't fit their system. Brett Brown should have been fired weeks ago. How is Embiid being dragged into this?

Embiid just makes the mistake of actually responding to the criticism, so it's easy to put the blame on him.

Stop with the needless Joel Embiid slander. The issue is not with a center that worked extremely hard to buy into "The Process." Trading him would be a betrayal of that process to be competitive again.