Perhaps, it is the excitement in the air with the NBA schedule dropping today, or maybe it is all the turmoil unfolding in Philadelphia with 76ers star James Harden recently calling team president Daryl Morey a liar and the reigning league MVP removing Philly from his social media bios — the latter is much more important than Harden, it is a very big deal — something has got me doing some summer dreaming. Those dreams include Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City Thunder making a blockbuster trade for Joel Embiid.
NBA players, specifically superstars, always make trade requests, but that does not mean they will be honored; ask Harden. However, some players have more power than others in the NBA hierarchy. Embiid definitively holds leverage here.,
James Harden: “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.” pic.twitter.com/AmHJ0WwbF2
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 14, 2023
Do the OKC Thunder have the assets to bring in Joel Embiid?
The short answer is a firm, yes, but there are many logistics to a trade of this magnitude. However, on paper, the OKC Thunder could outbid any other team who calls the Sixers regarding Joel Embiid’s availability, given OKC’s unique blend of young talent and their extensive treasure trove of draft capital.
The only question is, what is OKC willing to give up? Because the asking price for Embiid is not going to be cheap, he is a multi-time All-Star, reigning MVP, and an All-NBA talent. To win his services, the price is going to be high, very high.
For an example of how high Joel Embiid’s price tag will be, reference the Paul George trade, where OKC got six first-round picks, plus Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the more recent Rudy Gobert trade, where the Jazz walked away with five firsts and five players.