Joel Embiid Rumors: Knicks Were Main Threat to Trade for 76ers Star Before Landing KAT

As the Philadelphia 76ers continue to mull over their options with injured star center Joel Embiid, it's fair to wonder if they would've been better off trading him long before reaching this point.

NBA insider Jake Fischer revealed that there was once a scenario where the Sixers could've secured a massive haul from the New York Knicks if they made Embiid available for a trade.

"Once upon a time, Philly presumably could have extracted every draft pick that New York possessed before it splurged on trades for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns," Fischer wrote. "The Knicks were always the rival threat, sources said, that Sixers officials knew was waiting to pounce if Embiid ever reached the trade market."

Embiid has missed Philadelphia's last two games due to his bothersome left knee injury, and the team is reportedly continuing to evaluate whether he will be able to return at all this season. The 2023 NBA MVP has played in just 19 games this year and produced some of the lowest averages of his career with 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks.

With Embiid missing so much time, the Sixers have gone 20-38 and rank 12th in the Eastern Conference. The team will be riding a nine-game losing streak into Saturday's game against the Golden State Warriors (31-27).