Former GM takes a dim view of 76ers exploring Joel Embiid trade

The Philadelphia 76ers are in the midst of an unusually bad year as they are currently 15-27 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. If the season ended today, the 76ers wouldn’t even make the playoffs. With the NBA trade deadline approaching in just a few weeks, perhaps the team should consider trading one of its stars: Joel Embiid.

Joel Embiid is one of the best players in the NBA… when he’s healthy and really playing. The problem with Embiid as if there weren’t many consistent periods when he played in every game. Former New York Knicks GM Scott Perry thinks the 76ers should be exploring trade options for Embiid because of it.

“I think you have to watch it and research it,” Perry said during one episode A good word with a good will. “To at least see how much you could get in return and what you could get in return, if that could bring you down to where you are now.” I say where you stand, I consider them a playoff team, because they were, and a team that can go from that point and grow. Even without that superstar like Joel Embiid. If you’re doing this responsibly, you have to at least, in my opinion, explore and find out, as quietly as possible, what value you might get in return for weighing it up.”

After all, the reason the 76ers are in this position is because Embiid’s injury history. This team has been loaded with talent in recent years, but that talent needs to be on the floor all the time for good things to happen.

“We wouldn’t even be having this conversation if Joel Embiid didn’t have an extensive injury history,” Perry added. “It wouldn’t even be a conversation without him having it, more than likely Philadelphia would be in a conference final or two by now, if not the final.”

In the past, things haven’t been this bad for the 76ers. Yes, Joel Embiid struggled with injuries before this year, but Philly still put together some impressive seasons and put themselves in position to make the playoffs. They apparently failed to do so, and now it looks like the 76ers may not even apply. Not the playoffs, the playoffs. Maybe it’s time for the 76ers to move on.