The NBA’s collective eye is on James Harden, but the domino effect from one 76ers superstar could affect another.
If things continue to deteriorate between Harden and the Sixers without a resolution, insiders are speculating that reigning MVP Joel Embiid could be the next to ask out of Philadelphia.
And among the teams hoping to land Embiid would be the Knicks.
“Everyone’s circling, waiting,” a league source told Yahoo’s Vince Goodwill. “The Knicks and Miami are keeping an eye on everything going on.”
The Knicks being prematurely linked to a superstar is nothing new, and Embiid has yet to say anything that indicates he’ll follow Harden out the door.
So, take it with whatever size grain of salt you prefer.
Embiid is under contract through 2026, with a player option for 2026-27, but the chaos in Philadelphia could end up affecting his outlook on the organization’s chances of competing for a title.
Harden has loudly demanded a trade, and in a recent appearance at a camp in China he called GM Daryl Morey a “liar,” saying he would never play for him again.
The Clippers are Harden’s preferred destination, but no deal has happened as yet.
Yahoo reports that Morey is looking for future first-round picks — not guard Terance Mann — in a deal.
Harden would be the second star to force his way out of Philadelphia in as many years after Ben Simmons did the same in 2022 — in the deal that sent Harden to Philadelphia.
Embiid will also be 30 in March, adding fuel to speculation that Morey — as analytically minded a GM as there is — would consider cutting bait while the player still commands as high a price as possible.
As for the Knicks, Leon Rose has set up his roster well to trade for a superstar, and Embiid would vault the Knicks to contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Rose also used to serve as Embiid’s agent.
There’s little doubt that would represent an ideal scenario for the Knicks.
But whether a scenario ending in Philadelphia trading its perennial MVP candidate to New York is plausible, well, that’s a little more questionable.
