5 trade targets for the Golden State Warriors with No. 2 draft pick

3. Joel Embiid

OR

Let’s get stupid.

It’s probably not going to happen, because the Philadelphia 76ers will likely convince themselves their untenable situation can be fixed by simply replacing coach Brett Brown with someone else. But Tobias Harris is massively overpaid, and Al Horford is too, playing the same position as the Sixers’ best player. Said player, Joel Embiid, has posted good numbers with Ben Simmons on the court despite their shortcomings as shooters, but building properly around those two is impossible as long as Horford and Harris are on the books.

This kind of move would be an absolute worst-case, desperation scenario for Philly, who should try and run it back with a new coach and hope that cures what ails them. But if — IF — the 76ers decided to move one of their two superstars, and if that player is a disgruntled Embiid, the Dubs should jump on such a possibility.

The preferable option for Philly would be getting Klay and the No. 2 pick in return, since a core of Simmons, Klay, Harris, Horford, Josh Richardson, Matisse Thybulle and Shake Milton would actually be pretty damn good. Of course, Golden State would much rather go with the second, Wiggins-centered package.

Taking on Wiggins’ contract seems like a mistake given the ugly salaries already on the books for Philly, but such a deal would help the Sixers recoup some extra draft assets, as well as a promising role player in Paschall. A core of Simmons, Harris, Horford, Wiggins, Paschall, Richardson, Thybulle and Milton isn’t terrible, and those incoming picks could always be used as sweeteners to move on from Horford and/or Harris’ contracts if need be.

Embiid’s post-heavy offense and poor perimeter shooting don’t seem like a good fit with Golden State on paper, but his defense would be a boon, he’d be unstoppable down low with the Splash Brothers flanking him on the perimeter, and any double-teams on the block would leave someone open easy kick-out 3s. If the Sixers are desperate enough to consider moving Embiid this fall, the Dubs should offer up that No. 2 pick without a second thought. The question is whether they could get away with keeping their Big 3 intact with such a maneuver (and the answer is probably no).