Insider 'Scuttlebutt': Joel Embiid Wants New York Knicks Trade

A new report from Chris Broussard says that if Joel Embiid moves on from the Philadelphia 76ers, he'd prefer a move to the New York Knicks.

Fox Sports NBA insider/analyst Chris Broussard had a bombshell report on Thursday's edition of "First Things First:" Joel Embiid wants to be a New York Knick. 

Since a reigning MVP asking for a trade seems far-fetched, Broussard suggested that Embiid, currently of the Philadelphia 76ers, is being quiet with his request.

Does Joel Embiid want to go to the Knicks? 😳

— @Chris_Broussard says there is "scuttlebutt" around the league that he does: pic.twitter.com/akhpGBCeD4

— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) October 19, 2023

“There is scuttlebutt in some corners of the league that Embiid wants to go to New York," Broussard said to the shocked faces of his cohosts. "Now, he’s not going to come out and say it because he doesn’t want the backlash of fans in Philly. There is scuttlebutt."

If the 76ers are serious about trading James Harden, which seems to be their only option, for draft capital, then Embiid would be left alone on an aging roster that has never seen playoff success. With Harden gone, it only makes sense to bury “The Process” with whatever dignity it has left, acquire as many picks as possible, and regroup.

Joel Embiid pounds the paint against RJ Barrett and the Knicks.  / USA TODAY SPORTS

Just 100 miles north on I-95, the Knicks are in an opposite situation: coming off a second-round exit in the playoffs, the Knicks are looking for top-level talent to pair with Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and RJ Barrett. They have 11 first-round picks to trade (with various protections) between now and 2030 and have cap pieces like Evan Fournier and Mitchell Robinson to help get a deal done.

However, if the Knicks trade for the MVP, they would have to adopt a championship-or-bust mentality. You don’t add the scoring champ and one of the top players in the league with the expectation of making the Eastern Conference Finals.

In addition to reporting the news that Embiid may want out, Broussard made some bold assertions.

“We always associate the Knicks with all these great players on other teams so I’m not going to count on that," he warned. "I hate to say it, but Embiid wouldn’t lead them to a championship…they’d be good, they’d be like they were with (Patrick) Ewing,” 

Nick Wright jokingly countered that Embiid would not be the first offensive option, as the team belongs to Brunson, but that they would be quite good.

Granted, the Eastern Conference is stacked. The Milwaukee Bucks have cemented themselves as contenders, the Boston Celtics added even more talent, and it’s nearly impossible to ever count out the Miami Heat. However, Embiid is the MVP, Brunson is a candidate to break out, and Barrett and Randle are excellent tertiary options. Adding Embiid might not make the Knicks favorites, but it would give them a chance to break through in the most top-heavy version of the Eastern Conference in years. 

The Knicks and 76ers meet four times this season, the first matchup landing on Jan. 5. In the meantime, the Knicks open the 2023-24 season against the Celtics at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).