3-Team NBA Trade Ideas That Make Too Much Sense | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Philadelphia 76ers Receive: RJ Barrett, Evan Fournier, Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, a 2027 first-round pick from New York, a 2028 first-round pick swap with New York, a 2029 first-round pick from New York, a 2029 first-round pick from Los Angeles and a 2030 first-round pick swap from New York

Philadelphia 76ers Lose: Joel Embiid and James Harden

After a summer of chaos and several years of postseason flameouts, Philadelphia could steer into a total rebuild if there's some indication that Embiid wants out.

Embiid could undoubtedly yield a ton of picks from several suitors, but few troves of draft assets are as deep as New York's. The deal laid out above doesn't even exhaust the Knicks' stash, so they could probably be talked into including more.

That' the most important piece of this puzzle for a team that would be starting over, but this package also sends one interesting(ish) young talent to develop with Maxey in RJ Barrett. Every other player heading to Philly is either on an expiring contract or on a functionally expiring contract (Evan Fournier has a team option in 2024-25).

New York Knicks Receive: Joel Embiid and Terance Mann

New York Knicks Lose: RJ Barrett, Evan Fournier, Isaiah Hartenstein, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick swap, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap

After a better-than-expected 2022-23 campaign thanks in large part to Jalen Brunson's All-Star-caliber point guard play, the Knicks can justify breaking the asset bank, especially if it brings them the reigning MVP.

Brunson and Embiid alone could probably lift New York to the legitimate contenders' tier, but this deal would still leave the Knicks with a supporting cast that includes Julius Randle, Josh Hart, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes and Mitchell Robinson.

That group might not be quiteon par with the rosters recently assembled by the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, but it isn't far off. In any given series, New York could potentially boast the best individual player, which goes a long way in the postseason.

Los Angeles Clippers Receive: James Harden and Isaiah Hartenstein

Los Angeles Clippers Lose: Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, Terance Mann and a 2029 first-round pick

Much of the earlier analysis of Harden's fit with the Clippers applies here, but this trade also returns Isaiah Hartenstein to L.A. That addition might allow the team to re-route him or trade Ivica Zubac to recoup some of the wing depth it lost in this deal.