Joel Embiid is arguably the biggest winner of the Philadelphia 76ers' blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown.
The Philadelphia 76ers' trade for Jaylen Brown benefits them far beyond just landing more star power.
It could very well change everything for Joel Embiid.
Brown is an All-NBA wing who carried the Boston Celtics to a 56-win season last year, which was enough to earn the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
What the addition of Brown does for Embiid is something he's never experienced before. He's now pressure-free. The narrative is already shifting from "Can Joel Embiid carry this team?" to "Can this star-studded lineup win together?"
Embiid no longer needs the offense to operate through him on a nightly basis, nor does he need to carry the scoring load. Brown recorded 28.7 points per game last season, so when combining that number with the averages of Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, the 76ers should have no issues running up the score.
Opposing teams will struggle to throw double teams at Embiid because of how dangerous the surrounding pieces are. It becomes a much riskier approach to double team Embiid when Brown, Maxey, and Edgecombe are on the floor as well.
Going back to the pressure-free component, Embiid no longer needs to be the consistent closer. The 76ers are now home to three players deserving of taking the final shot, which could create drama if not handled correctly by coach Nick Nurse, but ultimately it should benefit the 2023 MVP.
The deal for Brown should also greatly help with Embiid's injury struggles, as a core of the former Celtics superstar, Maxey, and Edgecombe should have no issues carrying the 76ers to a top seed in the Eastern Conference. This gives Embiid the luxury of only playing in the regular season when he feels 100%.
Everyone instantly recognized the swap of Paul George for Brown was a major win for the 76ers, but few are talking about how beneficial the trade is for Embiid.
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