Many people have characterized Joel Embiid’s massive contract as untradeable due to the sheer size of it combined with Embiid’s consistent lack of availability. However, that might not be the case.
ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks gave some hope to the Sixers when it comes to a potential Embiid trade during an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic. Marks said that the contract is technically moveable, depending on what kind of return the Sixers are seeking.
“I think the contract is moveable. I think any salary is movable. It’s just a matter of what you want back, or if you want to just kind of wipe the slape clean. We saw with Anthony Davis in Dallas, Dallas moves off him and they get back a bunch of expirings and future firsts,” Marks said.
“The playoffs really play a big role in a lot of this. … There becomes a sense of desperation when teams lose early in the playoffs. We saw it a year ago with Houston, they go out and get Kevin Durant. … So, I do think there would be a market, it’s just a matter of kind of, what are you looking for?”
NBA Insider Says Joel Embiid’s Contract is Technically Moveable
The thought of trying to trade Embiid is likely a tough pill to swallow for many Sixers fans, but it might be time to at least consider it.
There’s no doubting or questioning Embiid’s ability as a player. When he’s on the floor he’s one of the absolute best players in the league. There’s no question about that. But, that aforementioned lack of availability has been an issue for the former MVP throughout his career, and it’s not likely to change as he gets older and his body continues to break down further.
The current campaign is the third straight season that Embiid will play 40 games or fewer for Philadelphia and he’s missed almost as many games as he’s played in over the course of his career. Even with all the talent in the world, it’s tough to overcome that type of unavailability.
Joel Embiid’s Massive Extension Hasn’t Even Kicked In Yet
For the Sixers, it’s just difficult to have so much money tied up in a guy who is in-and-out of the lineup. Keep in mind, the three-year, $193 million extension that Embiid signed with the Sixers in September of 2024 hasn’t even kicked in yet. It’s set to begin next season.
So, Embiid is scheduled to earn over $57 million next season, over $62 million the following season, and then he’ll have a player option for $67 million for the 2028-29 season. That’s a whole lot of money for an aging, injury-prone player.
The problem for the Sixers with any Embiid trade is that they’re never going to get equal value talent-wise in a return package. Teams might be willing to gamble and take on Embiid’s deal, but they’re not also going to reward the Sixers handsomely for doing so.
For that reason, any trade involving Embiid would mainly be a dump-the-salary situation for Philadelphia. Is that something that the organization will be interested in looking into over the offseason? Time will tell.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post NBA Insider Provides Hope for 76ers Regarding Potential Joel Embiid Trade appeared first on Heavy Sports.