The Philadelphia 76ers may very well be stuck with Joel Embiid for the next three seasons.
If the Philadelphia 76ers hope to build around the backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, the most crucial step the front office can take is trading away Joel Embiid.
Embiid begins a three-year, $187 million contract next season, which, when combined with his history of injuries, is the reason he'll be so difficult to move. Still, teams such as the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat, desperate for star power, have been floated as landing spots for the seven-time All-Star.
One NBA reporter, Sean Deveney of Heavy, believes Embiid is not tradeable. He delivered a blunt reality check on the possibility of a trade involving 'The Process,' writing, "This is an untradeable contract."
It's worth noting no reports have indicated the 76ers are interested in trading Embiid.
Even if the Sixers are stuck with Embiid and his contract for the next two to three seasons, it's not terrible news.
He is one of the most talented big men of all-time due to his rare combination of size, strength, athleticism, and skill on both ends of the floor. He averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks on 48.9% shooting and 33.3% shooting from three-point range in the 2025-2026 regular season.
Despite dealing with injuries throughout the NBA Playoffs, Embiid is the No. 1 reason the 76ers were able to upset the Boston Celtics in the first round.
The trend of Embiid not being at full strength when it matters most continued this season, but the series against the Celtics proved all it takes is one healthy campaign for Philadelphia to be a serious title contender. The problem is his track record pushes the narrative that it will never happen.
While starting over with Maxey and Edgecombe leading the charge would be ideal, it's likely not in the cards right now. So, the Sixers need to make the most of their opportunity to compete with Embiid at the helm.
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