Joel Embiid is easily the best player for a Philadelphia 76ers team that should legitimately be a contender in the East. He has all the tools to dominate the game, including a traditional post-up game and even ranges extending to the three-point line. Embiid is also a very dominant defensive player when he is locked in, and all those reasons led the big man to capture the league MVP award.
But he has faced some turbulent times this season. Beyond the usual nagging injuries he has dealt with since his rookie season, Embiid has had some pretty low moments, including a disappointing 15-point outing in the closeout Game 7 against the Boston Celtics. Not to mention, Philadelphia is getting the reputation of being a soft team without a killer instinct as the team fails time and time again. As the best player on the team, all fingers are starting to point at Embiid, even if the superstar center is seemingly pointing the blame at the team. As shocked as we were, even Damian Lillard was surprised at Embiid’s lack of accountability.
As a result, there is talk that Philly will want to start changing things and Embiid might want to leave as well. While he is a superstar talent, he plays a position that is becoming increasingly undervalued as teams look to employ pace and space, especially if a big man can’t keep healthy. Philly wants to trust its superstars, and there are significant doubts that both Embiid and James Harden can play together at a high level. Speaking of Harden, it is becoming increasingly clear that The Beard wants to return to Houston and the guard’s recent comments about his relationship with Doc Rivers being “ok” is nowhere near a good look and he probably does not want to play for the coach again.
Perhaps moving on from Embiid will help the Sixers aim in the right direction, as they look to be a massive step behind the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat. Interestingly, the Miami Heat is a team that is always looking to boost their title chances and has a playoff superstar player in Jimmy Butler already. The team also has All-Star Bam Adebayo and wants to keep adding quality players to further an Eastern Conference Finals run.
The following trade deal could see reigning MVP Joel Embiid jump ship while causing a rebuild in Philadelphia for the sake of a blockbuster deal.
Trade Details
Miami Heat Recieve: Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers Recieve: Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Max Strus, 2023 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick
There is talk that the Heat are interested in Embiid since the reunion of Butler and Embiid will likely place them among the elite of the East. Here is how Philly can revamp their roster by moving Embiid while the Heat grabs their second superstar player to finally get over the hump in the Eastern Conference.
Miami Heat Have The Best Duo In The NBA
The Miami Heat have been looking for a dominant big man to pair with All-Star Jimmy Butler for quite some time, and there should be no doubt that the Heat are interested in Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. While Embiid is widely considered one of the top centers in the league, there are question marks surrounding his longevity and durability. Nonetheless, there are compelling reasons why the Miami Heat would trade for Embiid and the potential that he brings to form arguably the best duo in the entire NBA.
Embiid’s presence on the Heat would give the team another dominant scorer and rebounder to pair with Jimmy Butler. Embiid’s combination of size, strength, and offensive versatility makes him a matchup nightmare for most teams in the league. He has improved his three-point shooting (33.0%) to the point where he is no longer a liability, which makes him more of a threat on the perimeter and his mid-range game is nearly automatic at this point. Other than Kevin Durant, there probably isn’t a better mid-range shooter.
With Butler already improving his three-point shooting (35.0%), the Heat could have two go-to scoring options that are difficult to defend in a league that is placing greater emphasis on three-point shooting. Not to mention, Embiid would provide the Heat with a much-needed boost in the paint on both ends of the court. The Heat have struggled at times handling bigger players even if they are an excellent defensive team (2nd in OPPG, 9th in defensive rating). The addition of Embiid would make the Heat an even more complete team both on offense and defense.
He could help fortify Miami’s defense inside the paint and reduce the number of easy buckets allowed in the interior. Bam Adebayo has been incredible as a two-time All-Star, but the Heat have been looking for big moves to improve their championship chances, and acquiring a player like Embiid would be just that. Combining Embiid’s talent with Butler’s will give Miami an excellent chance to advance far in the playoffs and potentially win an NBA championship. Miami fell short in the 2020 playoffs because they only had one superstar against the Lakers’ duo of superstars and they fell short in the Eastern Conference Finals last year because Butler was by himself against Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Finally, Miami won’t have to rely on superhuman efforts by Jimmy Butler to win a chip and that will be exactly what the team needs as Tyler Herro, Gabe Vincent, Kyle Lowry, and even Victor Oladipo build around them.
Philadelphia Starts A New “Process”
Losing the MVP of the league is never easy, but the failures the 76ers are undergoing time and time again are frustrating the fanbase. Tyrese Maxey is only 22 years old and could be the new star of the team, with James Harden on his way out. What better way to rebuild and start a new process with Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jokvic, Max Strus, and three first-round picks? Bam Adebayo is a dynamic power forward who can play at the center spot, complementing his dominant interior presence with perimeter shooting and playmaking ability.
In addition, the 76ers are in desperate need of shooting, and Max Strus offers just that. Strus is a sharpshooter (career 37.1% 3-PT FG) who has shown promise in limited minutes, and he could be a valuable asset for the 76ers going forward. As for Nikola Jovic, he is a young and unproven prospect who has shown potential in the European game but has yet to make his mark in the NBA. However, he could be a valuable piece for the 76ers to develop and build around. In exchange for Adebayo, Strus, and Jovic, the Heat have reportedly offered three first-round picks, adding to the 76ers’ already impressive draft capital.
With these picks, the 76ers could potentially fill gaps in their roster with young talent or package them in future trades to continue to build upon their core. The addition of Adebayo would also allow the 76ers to experiment with different lineups and potentially run a small-ball lineup with Adebayo as the starting center. With Adebayo’s versatility on both ends of the floor, he could help unlock the full potential of the 76ers’ offense, providing more opportunities for Maxey to score and make plays.
Joel Embiid is not keeping healthy, having only one season with at least 65 games played. Of course, the center is also missing playoff games, as he did in Game 1 while only playing under 27 minutes in Game 2 against the Boston Celtics. Instead of trying to pray that Embiid becomes the guy the 76ers need, kickstarting a new “process” is in the cards.
A Win-Win Deal That Creates A Superteam And Starts A New Process
A potential trade between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers for Joel Embiid would be a great move for both organizations. The Heat would be able to pair Embiid with Jimmy Butler to create a dynamic duo in the Eastern Conference. Embiid’s presence in the paint would bolster the Heat’s defense and make them a formidable team to face in the playoffs.
Not to mention, the Heat would be able to compete next year with the reigning MVP as a core of Gabe Vincent, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, and Joel Embiid would be exceptional in terms of scoring and playing defense. No other team would have a two-way duo of Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid’s skills, and Butler’s presence, along with Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley, would help the MVP get over his playoff demons.
Not to mention, the 76ers also benefit because Embiid will never be a playoff killer in an organization that isn’t as cut-throat as the Miami Heat. A trade that brings them three solid players and first-round picks gives them more flexibility in building and reshaping their roster to better fit their long-term plans. It is time for Tyrese Maxey, at 22 years old, to be the new cornerstone of the 76ers, and Nikola Jovic also fits with this lineup. All in all, the potential trade between the Heat and the 76ers for Embiid is an intriguing possibility that is sure to generate a lot of buzz and attention around the league.
