Oklahoma City Thunder Mock Trade: Should OKC target reigning MVP Joel Embiid?
By Alex Mcewen
What would Joel Embiid trade negotiations look like for the OKC Thunder?
In our hypothetical negotiation, the Sixers first asked for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, to which Sam Presti gave a hard no. There is no instance the OKC Thunder should consider trading Gilgeous-Alexander; he is the star here in Oklahoma.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is committed to the Thunder, and OKC is committed to him; he is off the table and was never on it to begin with.
Ideally, OKC could steal Joel Embiid away from the 76ers using a massive amount of draft picks (think the same amount previously mentioned in the Paul George and Rudy Gobert trades) as the focal point of the deal and a combination of young prospects.
Related Story. Chet Holmgren talked with Joel Embiid about his injury. light
OKC would not be parting with these young players because they are not good, but the NBA is a business, and if there is an opportunity to bring in an MVP to play alongside SGA, run and jump at the chance, don’t walk.
Unfortunately, it will likely take at least one of Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, or Josh Giddey to bring in Joel Embiid, likely the latter two, because it would be stunning to see Presti and the Thunder part with Holmgren before he even plays a single regular-season game for the franchise, plus the idea would be to pair Holmgren and Joel Embiid together, that obviously cannot happen if Holmgren is part of the deal.
Furthermore, Joel Embiid worked out with Holmgren last summer before fracturing his foot; perhaps some tea leaves were planted one year ago.
There is one thing that is probably the top question for Thunder Nation, how could OKC trade for a player making $47 million when much of their roster is still on rookie contracts?
Sam Presti wisely spent the summer acquiring one of the most valuable assets in the NBA trade market, expiring contracts. Let’s examine a mock trade package OKC could offer the Sixers.