The Philadelphia 76ers would be wasting their time if they attempt to move on from one of their superstars this offseason.
Most NBA fans are not viewing the Philadelphia 76ers as a serious championship contender in the Eastern Conference, and rightfully so.
The 76ers are the No. 6 seed in the East with a record of 30-24 at the All-Star break, as they trail the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Toronto Raptors in the standings. On top of this, few are confident in Joel Embiid's ability to stay healthy for the playoffs, especially after missing two consecutive games due to knee soreness prior to the break.
All signs are pointing toward Philadelphia being eliminated before reaching the biggest stage, so it begs the question of what they should do this offseason.
Veteran forward Paul George has already regressed during his time with the Sixers, so it's fair to assume that trend will continue into the 2026-2027 season. Alternatively, their backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe remains youthful, meaning their best years are likely still ahead of them.
So, where does superstar center Embiid fit into the mix?
Embiid, age 31, is trying to win a championship now, which is a goal this iteration of the 76ers may not be capable of accomplishing. If that's the case, could Philadelphia and Embiid be headed toward a mutual parting of ways this offseason?
Embiid is playing at a superstar level in 2026, averaging 29.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 53.5% shooting in 17 games. Assuming Embiid performs at this level the remainder of the year, a contending team could convince themselves the seven-time All-Star is their missing piece.
However, there are three major obstacles to a trade coming to fruition.
The first is Embiid's extensive history of injuries. The 2023 MVP has not played in 70+ games in his entire career and has not appeared in 60 or more games since 2023. The likelihood of Embiid not remaining healthy for an entire campaign will likely steer a lot of front offices away from negotiating with the 76ers.
The second is his lucrative three-year, $188 million contract, which kicks in starting in the 2026-2027 season. Paying a 31-year-old who struggles to remain on the floor $55+ million annually is a huge risk for teams to take. Once Embiid's contract is near expiring, moving on from 'The Process' era will become much easier for Philadelphia's front office.
The final obstacle is what a potential return for Embiid would look like. Not only would it be next to impossible for the 76ers to find a package of equal talent in return, but there's a chance Philadelphia would be forced to attach picks in a deal to move off his contract.
While the idea of beginning an era led by Maxey and Edgecombe sounds nice on paper for Philadelphia, attempting to trade Embiid this offseason would be nothing more than a waste of time.
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Anthony Pasciolla is the publisher of 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached via email at ampasciolla@gmail.com or followed on X @AnthonyPasci.