As trade whispers link the former MVP to Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis, the Philadelphia 76ers weigh a risky roster reset that prioritizes availability and consistent play
The idea of the Philadelphia 76ers trading Joel Embiid is no longer impossible to discuss.
After another injury-filled postseason and another disappointing exit, everything about the franchise’s direction should be on the table. But not every big-name trade idea makes sense just because both sides may need a change.
That is why the rumored concept of an Embiid-for-Domantas Sabonis deal feels more interesting in theory than practical in reality.
As Jake Fischer reported, “One longshot scenario that does get mentioned by rival team strategists is an Embiid-for-Domantas Sabonis swap with Sacramento … but even longshot might be underselling it. Both former All-Star big men could probably use a fresh start, but there's just no getting around the fact that Embiid, at 32, seems incapable of holding up for a deep playoff run. Which certainly shortens the list of potential suitors.”
On the surface, it’s easy to see why the idea exists. Sacramento gets the higher-ceiling star, while Philadelphia gets a more available big man who rebounds, passes, and can keep an offense moving.
But for the Sixers, this would be a hard sell for a multitude of reasons.
Sabonis is a very good player, but he is not Embiid. This season, he averaged 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 19 games while shooting 54.3 percent from the field. Sabonis is at his best as a half-court playmaker, screener, rebounder, and short-roll passer. He can finish pick-and-roll looks, punish smaller defenders inside and create second-chance points, and rebound better than most players in the league.
The issue is that Philadelphia does not need a less dynamic offensive hub if it is trying to remain competitive. Sabonis is not the same half-court scorer, foul-drawer or shot creator as Embiid. He also shot only 18.5 percent from three this season, which would shrink spacing for Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe instead of opening the floor.
For a team that already struggled with a stagnant playoff offense, replacing Embiid with a big man whose scoring depends more on rolls, putbacks, and setup opportunities would make the Sixers easier to guard. Maxey would face more pressure, Edgecombe would have less room to attack, and Philadelphia would lose the one player defenses still have to double when healthy.
The Kings’ side is not much cleaner. Embiid would obviously raise their ceiling if healthy, but Sacramento is not one injured superstar away from contention. This was without the purposeful tanking that teams such as the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers were doing. Sacramento is a bad basketball team; adding Embiid would not change that fact.
For Philadelphia, Sabonis is not enough of a reset. For Sacramento, Embiid is too risky for where the roster stands. Big names make the rumor interesting, but the basketball fit makes it hard to justify.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.