Controversial Trade Idea For The Golden State Warriors To Land Joel Embiid

The Golden State Warriors find themselves in a difficult position at this stage in the offseason. Over a month has passed since free agency opened, and yet, the Warriors haven't been able to complete any signings.

This can be attributed to their ongoing negotiations with their young star, Jonathan Kuminga. Current breakdowns in communication have resulted in significant delays, which have effectively prevented the Dubs from adding key free agents.

Although Golden State remains inclined towards retaining the 22-year-old, there are some inherent problems associated with this, including his desire to leave the team.

To address this, Sports Illustrated's Dave Holcomb presented an intriguing yet controversial trade idea. Let's take a look at the trade proposal.

Proposed Trade Details

Golden State Warriors Receive: Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Buddy Hield, 2028 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick

The suggestion for the Warriors to acquire Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers is certainly shocking. In a way, the deal may also have some merit.

When examining Golden State's roster, its lack of depth in its big man rotation stands out. Although Draymond Green has proven himself to be a serviceable "small ball" center, the team's decision to pivot from this strategy could see him take on a more traditional role as a forward.

At the current juncture, the Dubs feature two centers: Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis. While they have potential, the two are relatively inexperienced, which, considering the team's championship outlook, may not work in their favor.

In this regard, acquiring a player like Joel Embiid could address a lot of problems.

When healthy, Embiid is one of the best big men in the NBA. As the undisputed star of the 76ers, the center has showcased his ability to carry an offense on his own.

At the peak of his powers, Embiid is an MVP-caliber player. With a versatile offensive game and solid rim-protection ability, he could be the ideal big man for this Warriors' team, given their title dreams.

The challenge, however, lies in his injury history. As one of the most injury-prone players in the game, taking a chance on the 76ers' superstar could be a risk.

Last season, the 31-year-old only appeared in 19 games for Philadelphia. While he was immensely productive in this span, averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, he was sidelined with a recurring knee injury, forcing him to get surgery again.

In this regard, the Warriors may be gambling on his availability and status once he recovers and returns to the floor.

Meanwhile, the 76ers stand to gain significantly more from this trade. 

One of the key acquisitions from this deal are the 2028 and 2030 first-round picks, courtesy of Golden State. While Philadelphia already has a significant collection of draft assets, these would help in expanding its overall wealth.

Another significant gain is the addition of Jonathan Kuminga. The 22-year-old forward boasts a lot of upside, and a system like Philadelphia's could be the ideal place for him to flourish.

With the 76ers, Kuminga would be joining a young core, especially with Embiid out of the picture. Paired with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and VJ Edgecombe, the franchise would feature a talented set of players who would grow together.

The forward possesses incredible athleticism, which is only complemented by his innate physical tools and scoring sense. Embracing the role of the primary offensive force with Maxey may spur his development into a star, presenting an opportunity he hasn't received at Golden State.

Last season, the 22-year-old recorded an average of 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. In the starting lineup with more significant minutes, he could see a meaningful increase in production.

Additionally, Philly would also acquire a capable shooting guard in Buddy Hield, who already has experience playing with the 76ers. 

Although Hield's time with the team was short, he emerged as a solid contributor off the bench, putting up an average of 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists on shooting splits of 42.6% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range.

With Embiid's departure, the 76ers would need reinforcements in the frontcourt. The addition of Trayce Jackson-Davis does not come close to addressing this vacancy, but it would give Philadelphia an option in the rotation.

As things stand, Jackson-Davis is a serviceable athletic big man. With an average of 6.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season, he could shore up the team's big man rotation, while being on a very cap-friendly contract.

For the 76ers, this deal has more value for the future. With the addition of some key assets, Philadelphia could effectively hit the reset button on its rebuild, potentially offloading Paul George in the process as well.

The Warriors Gain Nothing From This Trade

This trade idea has merit only in the hypothetical sense. When considering the reality of the situation, Golden State would be risking far too much for potentially very little in return.

At the current juncture, the outlook for Embiid is still uncertain. 

While Nick Nurse has provided a positive update on the big man's situation, he is still expected to miss some time early in the season. In addition to this, there is no guarantee that he would be able to remain healthy even if he returns to full strength, primarily because of the recurring injuries to his knee.

The Warriors only have a limited number of draft picks. When considering the ages of their key rotation players, it is evident that the Dubs would need to make the most of their draft capital to acquire young talent. Giving up valuable future assets for Joel Embiid simply may not be in their best interests.

In the scenario that Embiid beats the odds and returns to full strength, the Warriors may still have a chance of winning it all. By completing their remaining offseason moves, they may even emerge as contenders. But the prospects for them to remain competitive even in the future, especially after the 2025-26 season, are limited.

Overall, the concerns far outweigh the benefits.