Proposed Joel Embiid Trade Would Land 4-Time NBA Champion With 76ers

The Dallas Mavericks should not be in the business of repeating the same mistake twice.

That is why the recent Mavs Moneyball trade proposal involving Joel Embiid is interesting in theory, but difficult to justify from Dallas’ perspective.

The framework would send P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, and Daniel Gafford to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Embiid, the No. 22 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a 2028 Clippers first-round pick, and a 2029 top-eight protected Sixers first.

If the Sixers are ready to move off Embiid’s contract and begin reshaping the roster, this would give them three rotation players and a cleaner financial direction. Washington would bring two-way forward play, Gafford would give them a starting-caliber rim-running center, and Thompson, a four-time NBA champion, depending on his contract situation and role, would provide shooting and veteran presence.

It would not be a perfect return for a former MVP, but Embiid’s trade value is no longer simple. His talent remains high. His availability, contract, and age make any deal complicated. If Philadelphia could turn that uncertainty into multiple usable players while beginning a new era around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, it would be hard not to at least consider.

For Dallas, though, the logic is much harder to follow.

The Mavericks already tried to build around an injury-prone superstar frontcourt piece. That experiment with Anthony Davis did not last, and if Dallas has already moved away from him in a perceived attempt to reset the roster, going right back into another risky star gamble feels redundant. Embiid is a better offensive player than almost any big man in basketball when healthy, but the “when healthy” part is the entire issue.

Dallas would be betting that Embiid and Kyrie Irving could stay on the floor long enough to create a contender. That is a dangerous bet. Irving has had his own availability concerns throughout his career, and Embiid’s injury history has become one of the defining factors of Philadelphia’s roster-building problems. The idea of building another makeshift contender around two older, injury-prone stars feels like repeating history. 

For Philadelphia, the proposal is attractive because it offers a smooth transition into the next era. 

For Dallas, it looks like another attempt at a shortcut. 

The Mavericks should be building around Flagg, their lottery pick, and whatever younger pieces they can develop or acquire. If they want to use veterans to support that process, fine. But Embiid should not be the next gamble after the Davis plan already failed miserably. 

Join The 76ersRoundtable

Head over to the 76ersRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button under the featured story... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other 76ers fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.

Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].