NBA rumors: What would a Knicks trade for Joel Embiid actually look like?

If the Philadelphia 76ers are ultimately forced to part ways with franchise cornerstone Joel Embiid, the New York Knicks are heavy favorites to acquire him. What would that trade look like? 

The Philadelphia 76ers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. James Harden has demanded a trade with his value at the lowest possible point. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid is dropping hints that can be reasonably construed as a method to put pressure on the front office. His prime is dwindling and the Sixers’ clock is ticking.

With Harden all but gone, the Sixers’ path to contention is murkier than ever. Embiid is the reigning MVP; it’s impossible to rule them out entirely as long as he’s on the roster. Tyrese Maxey is a huge bright spot too, but frankly, he might be the only bright spot. Tobias Harris is on the last year of his contract; so is De’Anthony Melton. The only other long-term guaranteed contract besides Embiid right now is P.J. Tucker, who’s probably going to get traded alongside Harden if we’re reading the tea leaves.

If the Sixers can’t muster a competitive roster next season, it’s only a matter of time until the NBA discourse comes for Embiid at full force, just like it came for Damian Lillard as he toiled away in Portland. If there’s one thing Embiid has always broadcast a desire for above all else, it’s a championship. If he doesn’t feel like he can get there with Philly, then he could be the next star (in a frustratingly long line of stars) to demand a trade.

The New York Knicks have been saving all their trade chips for the right moment to cash in. Embiid appears to be their great white whale. If Knicks do ultimately swing a move for the 7-footer from Cameroon, here’s what it could look like.

NBA Rumors: What would Joel Embiid to New York Knicks trade look like?

Let us first look at the recent history of superstar trades around the NBA.

We can point first toward Utah’s summer of 2022. Both Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were traded at peak value. While Embiid’s reputation certainly suffered with the Sixers’ second-round collapse in Boston, he’s still the reigning MVP smack dab in the middle of his basketball prime. His value is high.

Gobert netted the Jazz four first-round picks, one first-round pick swap, and a nice collection of players: No. 22 pick Walker Kessler, Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Leandro Bolmaro.

Mitchell netted the Jazz another pretty haul: Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, No. 14 pick Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks, and two first-round pick swaps.

Embiid is a demonstrably better player than both were at the time of the trade (and still is). The Kevin Durant trade at the deadline in February might provide a better sense of where Embiid’s value is: both are perennial MVP candidates, although Durant has more postseason success on his résumé while Embiid is younger and, by a slim margin, better.

Durant’s arrival in Phoenix landed the Nets with Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, and a pick swap. That’s one of the heftiest trade packages in NBA history and the Sixers would no doubt hope for a similar haul in the event of an Embiid trade demand.

Embiid still is not technically a free agent for another four years; he has a $59 million player option for 2026-27.  The Sixers would have considerable leverage and, knowing how Daryl Morey tends to operate, he’s not afraid to let relationships get awkward for the betterment of the team. The Sixers would hold out for the best deal available.

Therefore, the Knicks would have to supply the best deal available. What can New York truly afford to offer?

The Knicks have 11 first-round picks between now and 2030. The Sixers would presumably be pivoting to a rebuild with any Embiid trade, so let’s set the bar at the same level as Durant and Gobert. The Sixers would need at least four quality first-round picks and a swap or two, for good measure.

Then there’s the player package coming back to Philly. In order to match salaries, the Knicks would need to involve at least a couple big names. Jalen Brunson is probably off the table, but Mitchell Robinson and R.J. Barrett gets New York into Embiid’s territory salary-wise. Barrett’s contract is probably more of a hurdle than an asset, however, so the Sixers would likely ask the Knicks to dive further into their treasure trove of assets.

Immanuel Quickley immediately jumps to mind: he’s a former teammate of Tyrese Maxey’s at Kentucky and the two would certainly form a compelling backcourt. Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride are also young players the Sixers could target, but outside of Brunson, there aren’t any New York trade assets on the level of Mikal Bridges or even Walker Kessler. The Knicks could have to dish out more picks than Phoenix did for Durant or Minnesota did for Gobert.

Here’s a rough outline of what Embiid-to-New York could entail:

Should the Knicks be willing to give up that much for a team built around Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, and Jalen Brunson? Probably. There’s no guarantee that team gets further in the East than Philadelphia did, but it’s hard to get top-five players on your roster. The Knicks should take the plunge and go from there, seeking subsequent moves to better balance to roster around Embiid’s unique skill set.

The possibilities of a Brunson-Embiid tandem are quite tantalizing and Tom Thibodeau would certainly appreciate Embiid’s all-consuming presence on the defensive end. The Knicks would be a force to be reckoned with and the Sixers would have a nice collection of picks to start their next chapter.