Kendrick Perkins proposes a blockbuster move sending Joel Embiid to the Phoenix Suns. While salary cap hurdles and injury risks loom, a Booker-Embiid duo could redefine the Suns' championship window.
NBA champion Kendrick Perkins talked about the idea of trading Joel Embiid to the Phoenix Suns.
In the YouTube video discussing the possibility, the argument centers on Embiid getting a fresh start with a new medical staff and the Suns getting a big man who has massive upside.
But any Embiid trade starts with money.
Embiid’s contract is massive, and that makes every possible deal difficult. He carries a $55.2 million cap hit for 2025-26, and his three-year extension adds nearly $188 million beyond that, including a player option for 2028-29. For a player with Embiid’s injury history, that is an enormous financial commitment.
That does not mean Phoenix should dismiss the idea immediately. If the Suns believe they are closer to contention than their recent results suggest, Embiid is the kind of player who changes the math. A healthy Embiid next to Devin Booker would give Phoenix a devastating half-court pairing. Booker could handle perimeter scoring and late-game creation, while Embiid would bring elite three-level scoring. After Booker agreed to a two-year, $145 million extension that keeps him under contract through 2029-30, Phoenix clearly has its long-term face of the franchise.
The issue is whether the Suns have enough to make Philadelphia interested. A realistic offer would likely start with Jalen Green, who gives the Sixers a younger scoring guard. Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale could help match salary and provide shooting or veteran depth. Phoenix could also include a young frontcourt piece such as Khaman Maluach or a defensive wing like Ryan Dunn if Philadelphia wants developmental upside.
Draft capital would be the harder part. Phoenix has already moved several picks in previous win-now deals, including sending a 2026 first-round pick out in the Jusuf Nurkic trade and reshaping its asset base through the Kevin Durant deal. Because of that, the Suns may not be able to overwhelm Philadelphia with picks the way other teams could.
For the Sixers, the decision would depend on direction. If they want to keep competing around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, Green, O’Neal, Allen, and a young piece could give them more depth and flexibility.
For Phoenix, this would be another high-risk star chase. If Embiid stays healthy, the Suns could become dangerous quickly. If he does not, they will be locked into another expensive, fragile roster.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.