(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
One trend seen this offseason in the NBA is a number of stars either getting traded or asking to be traded.
Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, and Kristaps Porzingis have all changed their zip codes, while Damian Lillard and James Harden have asked out of their current teams.
Harden, in particular, seems to be at odds with the front office of the Philadelphia 76ers after it ended its efforts to trade him, and he accused executive Daryl Morey of being a “liar.”
The situation seems to have a number of ESPN insiders thinking that 76ers co-star Joel Embiid will be the next great player to ask for a trade, via NBACentral.
ESPN insiders vote Joel Embiid as the next star to request a trade
1. Joel Embiid (40% of total votes)
2. Zion Williamson (20%)
3. Karl-Anthony Towns (12%)
T-4. Trae Young (8%)
T-4. Kyrie Irving (8%)
T-5. Ja Morant (4%)
T-5. Donovan Mitchell (4%)
T-5. Luka Doncic (4%)
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 21, 2023
Embiid has gone from a great player to a dominant one over the last couple of years, and this past season, he finally realized a great deal of the potential many had seen in him ever since he was the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft.
He put up a career-high 33.1 points a game this past season, which led the NBA, and he won his first regular-season MVP award as the Sixers finished with a 54-28 record.
But there is still room for improvement, especially after Philly blew a 3-2 series lead in the second round of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics.
In Game 7, Embiid played well beneath his standards, shooting just 5-of-18 from the field and scoring only 15 points in a 24-point loss.
If Harden recommits himself to the Sixers, they should have a real shot at winning the NBA championship again this coming season.
However, they’re also on the verge of total collapse and perhaps a protracted rebuilding phase.
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