What’s Joel Embiid’s Mindset Following 76ers’ Recent Trade?

One week ago, the Philadelphia 76ers officially concluded the James Harden saga by striking a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, which included the Oklahoma City Thunder as a third team.

The Sixers sent Harden packing once and for all, along with PJ Tucker and Filip Petrusev. In return, the Sixers received four new players and draft compensation.

“I’m happy that the situation got resolved, and I'm happy for [Harden],” Sixers center Joel Embiid said last Thursday following a win over the Toronto Raptors. “He wanted it to happen. It’s all business. I hope he has a chance to succeed and make a lot of money, play good basketball, and be able to win.”

While admittedly disappointed in the fact that Harden made his trade request back in July, Embiid never showed a lack of support for his now-former teammate. Understanding that Harden took issue with the team’s front office rather than members of the roster, the seven-foot center stayed out of the drama and focused on doing what he could to win basketball games.

Although star players tend to get involved with moves their team’s front office makes, whether it’s signings or trades, Embiid has consistently stressed that he stays away from having a say in the roster-building process. When asked about the specific return from LA, Embiid took the same route as always.

“My job is to come in and play basketball,” he claimed.

Navigating through a critical season in his career, Embiid has a lot on his plate on-court. As the NBA’s back-to-back scoring champion and the reigning MVP winner, expectations are high for the veteran center, who hasn’t seen the Eastern Conference Finals just yet.

Adding more responsibility off-court for Embiid could get overwhelming. So, he’ll have to continue to trust the front office’s process as they attempt to take the correct steps to keep the big man happy.

So far, so good.

“I’m excited for the new guys that are here,” Embiid admitted. “Excited to get involved, and we got some good players.”

From the Clippers, the Sixers landed Marcus Morris, KJ Martin, Robert Covington, and Nic Batum. Although the desired return from a Harden package was initially an All-Star player, the Sixers were willing to settle for four complementary role players, along with draft assets.

“Obviously, I played with [Covington]. You know, [Morris], we’ve had some connections, going to Kansas, and we’ve known each other for a while,” said Embiid. “Obviously, KJ, I told him I’m just going to throw it up, and he’s got to go get it. Then Nic, obviously, we’ve been friends for a long time. We’ve had a connection. I’m excited with the guys that we’ve got.”

For months, outsiders have wondered just how much longer do the 76ers have until Embiid becomes the league’s next disgruntled superstar who wants out. Many assumed that the results of a Harden trade could move the needle in either direction.

Embiid didn’t get another star teammate to add to the Sixers’ lineup, but he’s far from frustrated with the results.

“I love the guys that we have,” Embiid explained. “We’re going to go and fight every single night like we’ve been doing. We’re always going to have a chance to win. As you see in the league, with the way guys have been winning, it takes a lot. It takes everybody to contribute, and I believe in our guys.”

The 76ers aren’t permanently protected from a Joel Embiid trade request in the future. Over the past decade, the league has seen plenty of homegrown superstars reach a breaking point and want to run away from home. The Sixers, at the moment, don’t have to worry about that.

“The only thing I care about is winning, and that’s my focus,” Embiid finished. “I hope that we’re all on the same page because that’s all I want, and the moment we’re not on the same page, then that’s a discussion for another day, but I think these guys want to win, and we’re going to do our best.”

If winning is all that matters to Embiid, then the Sixers are right where they need to be at 6-1 to start the year. And in case anybody doubted where Embiid’s head was, his social media activity proved that he was feeling “good vibes only” in Philadelphia.