Would New York Knicks Pay 'Huge Price' for Joel Embiid Trade?

The New York Knicks would no doubt target Joel Embiid if the Philadelphia 76ers put him on the trade block.

Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid is trying to heal to help the Philadelphia 76ers in their playoff run.

Since Embiid last played on Jan. 30 before he was lost to a meniscus injury, Philadelphia (40-35) has fallen to the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament with a mark of 11-15. Sixers management expects Embilld to return before the postseason begins, no matter the round.

But even if Embiid does return in time to help, both he and the Sixers have an uphill battle ahead of them.

Perhaps this would behoove Embiid to look for other options to help get closer to a championship. Tensions reportedly rose as the 76ers embarked on a bit of a change-up, bringing in Nick Nurse as the head coach and trading James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers. The struggles of this season could put Embiid back on the radar of the division rival New York Knicks, so theorizes an offseason wish list compiled by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report.

Mar 1, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid smiles

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"An interior difference-maker like Embiid could be the perfect complement to a perimeter star like Brunson, and the Knicks have enough depth that they wouldn't need to gut the roster to bring them together," Buckley wrote.
"They would, of course, have to cash in essentially all of their top trade chips, as an Embiid blockbuster might require something in the neighborhood of four first-round picks, pick swaps on top of that, and then whatever young or established talent Philadelphia wanted."

"That's a huge price to pay, but when the potential reward is this rich, New York would gladly accept."

It remains to be seen whether Embiid has played his last game with the 76ers. The Knicks have been linked to him for a while, and the longer Philadelphia holds onto him, the more questionable his situation becomes ... unless they win a championship. But a team in the middle of the pack in the East likely isn't good enough to truly contend for a title, even if Embiid is healthy.

That could prompt the 76ers to make a move, and if they ever do, the Knicks will be on the phone.