Joel Embiid Needs Success Elsewhere

Six-time All-Star Joel Embiid must find another destination to win an NBA championship because Philadelphia is not it. The reigning regular season MVP has had bad luck when it comes to finding a partner to go to battle with. He is now facing another problem with James Harden trying to force his way out of Philly. 

Butler Departure

The 2018-19 76ers were one of the most stacked teams of the 2018-19 season. The starting lineup consisted of Ben Simmons, J.J. Reddick, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, and Joel Embiid. Unfortunately, this team lost in the second round of the playoffs against the Toronto Raptors after Kawhi Leonard hit the game-winner in game 7. This Philadelphia team was highly favored to win the championship that year, and many hoped the same group would be back in the playoffs. This same team wasn’t able to play again after Butler left Philly to join the Miami Heat.

Going into the summer of 2019, Harris and Butler were both free agents. Philadelphia signed Harris for a 5-year 180 million dollar contract and let Butler walk. Butler was the heart and soul of that team. Butler and Harris averaged 18.2 points per game in the 2018-19 season, but Butler was the leader of that team. He effectively put people in check, and made sure his team was in a situation to win. Since Butler left, he has been to the NBA Finals twice, while the 76ers can’t make it out of the second round. He even defeated the 76ers in the second round of the 2021-22 playoffs. After the win, as Butler was walking back to the locker room he made a joke saying, “Tobias Harris over me.” The 76ers haven’t recovered since letting Butler go.

Simmons Leaving Philly

Simmons forcing his way out of Philly was one of the scariest moves taken by a professional athlete. After being criticized by fans, teammates, and the media, he decided he wanted to sit out the 2021-22 season because he didn’t feel wanted by Philly. Simmons sitting out took a toll on Embiid, since Simmons was his partner to battle with. Embiid needed to find a way to win games without Simmons, but it was hard for him. 

Philly GM vs James Harden

The latest news with the 76ers is Harden wanting to skip out on team training camp. He wants to force his way out of Philly just like he forced himself out of Houston and Brooklyn. He wants to force himself out of Philly because GM Daryl Morey won’t pay Harden what he wants. Harden took a pay cut when signing a two-year 68 million dollar contract so they could acquire other players. Supposedly Morey promised Harden more money heading into the second year of Harden’s contract, but the two couldn’t reach an agreement. 

Harden recently went viral after he called Morey a liar and said he will never be a part of an organization that Morey is a part of. Now Embiid is potentially facing another Simmons situation where the star player doesn’t want to play. 

Embiid Needs New Beginnings

Embiid is a once in a lifetime player. He can slash at the rim, shoot, handle, and defend at 7 feet. He needs a change of scenery because situations keep happening where star players are leaving him. Embiid is too talented, and it would be a shame for him to fall in the category of great players who didn’t win a championship. He isn’t a free agent until 2027. However, he could request a trade, with the window of him winning a title in Philly nearly closing.