Injury shadows, two Embiid trading plans that Philadelphia must evaluate

6ers are looking forward to Joel Embiid's recovery or they will soon have to make some tough trading decisions.

Many people think the Philadelphia 76ers have become one of the biggest winners by signing star Paul George in the 2024 NBA offseason — the nine-time All-Star player actually took Tobias Harris’ place.

However, George's performance in wearing the 76ers' jersey last season has never really gotten on track.

He suffered a knee injury during the preseason and then struggled, experiencing his worst season since his return from a leg injury in 2014.

Today, George has long maintained efficient output on the court, so some view him as a potential rebound candidate for the 2025-26 season. But physical loss seems to be catching up with the 35-year-old striker. About a month ago, George suffered a left knee injury during a training session and had to undergo arthroscopy to help him recover.

Given that the Sixers are already dealing with the fog brought by Joel Embiid and his ongoing injury problems, George's latest injury will only make Philadelphia's situation worse.

While the Sixers have not yet reached the point where they have to "pull down and rebuild", if these injuries continue to plague their best players, they may have no choice but to face reality.

In that case, if someone has to leave, George should be the first player to be sent away by the Sixers. However, George's age, decline in form and contract will make it extremely difficult for him to trade - especially as injuries continue to attack him.

Once the doomsday situation occurs, the Sixers should probably put Embiid on the trading market - hoping that some teams are willing to bet on his amazing talent.

In view of this, if the Sixers decide to let the Embiid era end, here are two trade plans they must consider.

76ers' trading plan 1: The Spurs risk betting on the future

76ers are sent: Joel Embiid

Spurs are sent: Devin Wassell, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sohan, three first-round draft picks (2027 Hawks' first-round picks, 2029 and 2031 Spurs' first-round picks)

There is no doubt that the San Antonio Spurs will never agree to this deal. There is no way the Spurs will give up all these assets in exchange for players like Embiid, especially in this reality we are in who have refused to actively fight for Kevin Durant, a person who could have perfectly adapted to the core system of the team built around Victor Vinbanyama and Daron Fox.

However, if Embiid's best form remains, any team -- including the Spurs -- may try to convince themselves to take the risk. Embiid's last time was healthy, he was amazing in his dominance; even in the 2024 NBA playoffs, he still scored 50 points and gave all his money on the court.

Embid is a unique player, and he has strong dominance whether he is carrying a basket or facing a basket. His mid-range jump shot is probably the softest and silkies in the league except Durant and Shea Gilgers-Alexander, and he is a self-sufficient scorer who doesn't need his teammates to feed him a "nanny ball". There is a reason Embiid can beat Nikola Jokic in the 2022-23 MVP selection. Although Jokic may be worthy of that award, Embiid's performance in the season was not inferior. He averaged 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in the MVP season, and in the following year, he performed even better before a knee injury - averaging 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.

Perhaps most importantly, Embiid is also a force that cannot be ignored on the defensive end. His grasp of position and timing has reached a state of magnitude. Even if his athletic ability has declined, he is still a fierce basket protector.

The frontcourt combination with Embiid and Vinban Yama will make all opponents frightened. With its coverage and mobility, Vinban Yama can create trouble in many ways on the defensive end, while Embiid can be nailed near the basket as a pile to deal with high and low-post players who may have trouble Vinban Yama.

In the NBA, skilled big men occupy the supreme position, and having two of the best centers in the league will make the Spurs an unstoppable force.

However, if Embiid cannot stay healthy, it all makes no sense. And considering that he played only 19 games last season, performing a big dive (average of 23.8 points and 8.5 rebounds, shooting 44%/30%/88% from three events), and undergoing more knee surgeries to try to relieve pain, he is likely not able to guarantee his health.

For the 76ers, if Embiid can guarantee a return to MVP, the return is obviously not enough. But this guarantee does not exist. Devin Wassel will be an excellent deputy ball holder when playing side by side with Tyres Maxi, Jared McCain and VJ Edgecomb, and if George can get back in shape, the two can form a solid partner on the wing.

Jeremy Sohan is a versatile player who can adapt to any lineup (as long as there are players who can open up space in the lineup), while Harrison Barnes is an experienced forward-guard swinger who can provide the perfect complementary skills.

Considering the competitiveness that the Spurs have focused on building in the long run, the value of these first-round picks may be limited. But the trade to take a team cornerstone should be exchanged for a large amount of assets (the Dallas Mavericks may object), which should be the minimum number of draft picks the Sixers have obtained in any trade involving Embiid..

76ers trading plan 2: Nets get their cornerstone star

76ers send: Joel Embiid

Nets send: Nicholas Clarkston, Cameron Thomas (by signing first and then changing), Danny Wolf, Jaylen Wilson, 2026, 2028, 2030 Nets' first-round draft pick, three second-round draft picks

In terms of player returns, the package the 76ers get from the Nets is relatively light.

Clarkston is a starting level player, a classic pick-and-roll threat and good at blocking shots, but he lacks the ability to pull up space, which limits his contribution to a strong team.

Thomas is one of the purest scorers in the league, but in a team that already has Maxie, McCain and (and possibly) Quentin Grimes, Thomas seems redundant. To be honest, the Sixers don't need a player like Thomas.

Danny Wolf is the first-round final rookie in 2025. Jaylen Wilson has shown the potential to be a substitute contributor, but no one expects them to be the core of changing the situation in the near term.

The real reward for this package lies in the first round pick. The Sixers (smartly) bet that the Nets will struggle in the coming seasons and Embiid’s health (or lack of health) may drag the team down.

But the factor that prompted the Nets to make this deal more than other teams is that they are currently missing a cornerstone for building a team. They are not centered around the team building; they are still looking for a superstar who can shape the team with it as its core. It is indeed possible that Embiid is no longer the player he used to be, but his upside potential may be too tempting for a team as eager for talent as the Nets to give up.

However, in the final analysis, if this is the best offer in the market that can be exchanged for Embiid, the 76ers might as well keep the former MVP. Giving up Embiid means giving up the possibility of its rebound. Is it worth it to exchange for this asset package full of more uncertainty?

For now, the best strategy for the Sixers is to keep the team in motion and let Embiid's situation develop naturally. Perhaps the early end of the 2024-25 season plus a long recovery period is enough to bring him a redemption season. Nevertheless, the Sixers will have to think about their future, as Embiid gets older and his knees can no longer support the huge load brought by his unique style of playing.