The New York Knicks are currently the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. While they’ve taken some criticism for their lackluster play against other championship contenders, they’re still positioned fairly well for the playoffs.
After trading for center Karl-Anthony Towns and losing Mitchell Robinson to injury, New York has been worse on defense than many anticipated. One offseason trade, though, could’ve flipped the script on the Knicks’ defensive woes.
New York is certainly happy with the likes of Mikal Bridges and Towns, there is a world where former NBA MVP Joel Embiid could have become a Knick.
Joel Embiid Deal Would Have Been Priority for New York Knicks
While there’s no way to know if the Philadelphia 76ers were willing to trade their superstar, the idea of New York offering every draft pick and player possible to acquire him is an interesting hypothetical.
In Marc Stein’s recent Substack article, insider Jake Fischer spoke about the prospect of Embiid being on the Knicks’ radar, highlighting the idea that New York would have essentially mortgaged the house to bring him in.
Early in the offseason, Philadelphia could have extracted every draft pick that New York could have traded before it splurged on Bridges and Towns. The rivalry complicates things, of course, but Fischer suggested the 76ers would have been listening for an incredible offer.
So, what would have happened if that deal actually manifested? The Sixers and Knicks have always had their rivalry, but a trade sent New York all-in while kickstarting Philadelphia’s rebuild could have excited both fanbases — especially given how Embiid’s injury-threatened season has progressed.
While the deal was never completed — or even likely — the idea of Embiid playing alongside Jalen Brunson would have made them a championship contender. We’ll never know how that would play out if they were on the same team, but then again, this is the NBA. In a few years, you never know.
Embiid’s Current Status Going Forward As Sixers Make Playoff Push
Also mentioned in the Substack article was the idea that the Sixers are currently just playing the waiting game as it pertains to Embiid and his health.
While Embiid has been unavailable for a good amount of the season, the question remains: What could be done next to help ensure he’s healthy for the remainder of the year?
Embiid is still waiting for tests and doctors to give him a general idea of what his timeline will look like down the stretch. Considering where Philadelphia is in the East right now, it might be smarter to just tank the rest of the season.
Forward Paul George has decided to take a break from podcasting to help with this playoff push the Sixers are attempting to make, time is running. There’s no guarantee that even if Embiid gets the go-ahead to play again, he’ll be back to his MVP form. The 76ers currently sit at 12th in the conference.
Embiid has shown flashes of being the former MVP the basketball world has witnessed before, but it seems evident that he needs to take time off to come back fully healthy. If that means Philadelphia has to take its foot off the pedal, get a decent draft pick, let Embiid rest, and then come back healthy next year, some will think back to how the rebuild could have already been underway.
