Trade Idea Pairs Joel Embiid With NBA Champion

The Philadelphia 76ers had a brutal 2024-25 season. Not only did the team miss the playoffs, but Joel Embiid underwent another surgery on his left knee. 

Embiid appeared in only 19 games this season. His left knee injury was so bad that the Sixers shut him down in March and the big man had arthroscopic surgery in April. Embiid will be re-evaluated in approximately six weeks.

Philadelphia signed Embiid to a three-year, $192 million extension in September 2024. Embiid is owed $248.1 million over the next four seasons. Some believe the Sixers must end the Embiid era this offseason and fully build around Tyrese Maxey. 

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed that the Sixers trade Embiid to the Washington Wizards this offseason. Washington's roster is headlined by one-time NBA champion Jordan Poole. 

Bailey proposed that the Wizards trade Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart, a 2027 first-round pick and a lottery-protected 2029 first-round pick to the Sixers for Embiid. 

"Regardless of who Washington gets in the draft, it isn't likely to be competing for titles in the near future," Bailey wrote. "So, it can maybe risk more injuries and unavailability from Embiid while the rest of the roster develops. And considering the fact that Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart are both post-prime veterans on contracts that expire in 2026 (the former has a player option for 2025-26), it's maybe not even that big a risk.

"On the other hand, if Embiid does get back to anywhere near the level he played at when he was a perennial MVP candidate, he would supercharge a core that includes Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and potentially Cooper Flagg."