NBA Rumors: Knicks Hope for Joel Embiid Trade Demand If 76ers' Status Goes 'Haywire'

As the New York Knicks look to add a second star to play alongside Jalen Brunson, the reigning NBA MVP's name keeps coming up as a potential option if he gets unhappy with his current situation.

On the latest episode of The Hoop Collective Podcast (starts at 47:55 mark), ESPN's Tim MacMahon said the Knicks are hoping things go "haywire" with the Philadelphia 76ers to the point that Joel Embiid will want to leave:

"They're not hoping for patience, they're hoping for The Process. I don't know if that's coming, but they've looked at that situation in Philly and there's been a hope in New York that stuff in Philly will go haywire to the point where Embiid will ask out. I don't know the percentage odds on that, I would say they are slim, but that's been the hope."

It doesn't appear like there is any immediate risk of Embiid wanting out of Philadelphia.

NBA insider Marc Stein recently reported in his Substack Newsletter (h/t Geoff Magliocchetti of SI.com) there are "no legs" to the Embiid-Knicks scenario and called it "strictly media chatter."

In the wake of Philadelphia's playoff loss to the Boston Celtics, there has been a great deal of speculation about what the future of the roster is going to look like.

James Harden, who can opt out of his contract this summer, is expected to sign with the Houston Rockets as a free agent, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Even if Harden's salary comes off the books, it doesn't guarantee the Sixers can replace him with another high-level player. ESPN's Bobby Marks noted they would be able to use the $12.2 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception if the 33-year-old signs with a team that has cap space.

But the only way for Philadelphia to get under the cap would be if Harden leaves and Tobias Harris gets traded without any money coming back in return.

That scenario would leave Embiid in a potentially precarious position as the lone superstar on a team that's already struggled to compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

At some point, Embiid might examine his situation, but it's hard to see it happening imminently. Next season marks the first year of his four-year, $210.1 million contract signed in September 2021.

If the 76ers have a disappointing season in 2023-24 or lose in the first two rounds of the playoffs again, the 29-year-old could be tempted to explore potential trade options in the summer of 2024.

Even if that happens, what are the odds Philadelphia would trade the player who has been the face of the franchise for seven years to New York? The two rivals haven't made a deal with each other since June 2015 when the 76ers drafted Willy Hernangómez and traded him to the Knicks for two future second-round picks.

The Knicks certainly have the potential to present an enticing trade package with 10 first-round draft selections from 2024 to '29, but Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey isn't known for prioritizing picks at the expense of winning now.