Embiid vs. Harden: Inside Knicks Trade Rumors with Sixers

The connections made over the years between the Knicks and superstar players were often bogus and inflated. That was then. And as it relates to New York being justified in trying to exploit the Sixers' situation with Joel Embiid and James Harden? This is now.

New York Knicks fans are by now accustomed to the notion of your favorite team being attached to superstar "gets.'' Maybe traditionally, it's that "Knicks Clicks'' phenomenon, and it's the media's fault. But increasingly, New York and superstars are the subject of at the very least dot-connecting for a pair of justifiable reasons.

One, it is more likely than its been in decades that such a player would want to play for the Knicks. And two, New York has assembled the ammunition to make genuine offers for genuine talent.

Which takes us to the Philadelphia 76ers and the status of James Harden and Joel Embiid. No matter what Harden says or doesn't say about his link to the Sixers, his track record means he'll always been linked to "the greener grass.''  And Embiid? The noise is almost deafening following his recent "maybe Philly'' statement.

“I just want to win a championship,'' he said. "Whatever it takes. I don’t know where that’s gonna be. Whether it’s in Philly or anywhere else. I just want to have a chance.”

Joel Embiid on his future aspirations:

“I just want to win a championship. Whatever it takes. I don’t know where that’s gonna be. Whether it’s in Philly or anywhere else. I just want to have a chance.”

The pressure is officially on for the Sixers to capitalize on their win-now… pic.twitter.com/deL8Eip5jP

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 17, 2023

Is that a bluff? A power play in an attempt to push the Sixers to do more with their roster? We are convinced that the Knicks want to find out, and are prepared to dance with Philly GM Daryl Morey - who by the way has admitted to an open-mindedness regarding trading Harden - as they seek answers.

We've heard a bunch of other names and we've played around with them here on AllKnicks.com at SI. Zach LaVine! (That was discussed by the Knicks.) Karl-Anthony Towns! (We're not sure about that one.) Damien Lillard! (We don't think there's real buzz there.) But Harden? We don't scoff at paying attention there at least in the sense that what the Sixers do with Harden figures to impact what Embiid would want ... and vice-versa.

A year ago, the Knicks relationships helped them steal Jalen Brunson from the Dallas Mavs. It so happens that present Knicks boss Leon Rose, back when he was in the agent business, repped Joel Embiid.

The connections made over the years between the Knicks and superstar players were often bogus and inflated. That was then. And as it relates to New York being justified in trying to exploit the Sixers' situation? This is now.

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