Memphis gets

• Joel Embiid

• 2029 less favorable swap

why Memphis does it?

should be obvious, they pair last years MVP with Ja to create a top 5 duo in the league and immediately become a threat for the west and the title.

1. Ja

2. Smart

3. Bane

4. Clarke

5. Embiid

Bench: Adams, LaRavia, Roddy, Tillman, Rose, Konchar, Aldama

Philly gets

• Jaren Jackson Jr

• Luke Kennard

• Zaire Williams

• Kenny Lofton Jr

• 2025 MEM unprotected 1st

• 2028 MEM unprotected 1st

• 2029 most favorable 1st swap with MEM

• 2030 MEM unprotected 1st

• 2030 1st via WAS or PHX

why Philly does it?

with Harden on the way out, likely for pennies on the dollar, the 6ers are getting worse while the rest of the eastern contenders get better. it’s more likely that Embiid - turning 30 - is going to start the 2024-2025 season on a different team than it is that he’s back in Philly.

they get one of the best young players in the game in JJJ (24) to pair with Maxey (22) to build the new look future around. they also would be separately unloading Harden, expiring Harris, PJ Tucker, Beverly and Danny Green for whatever other assets they can get.

Maxey and JJJ are an intruiging young pairing to build aroud

the concerns with this trade are:

• no team control over ‘25 first

• the best picks from Memphis aren’t cashing until ‘28, ‘29, ‘30 when JJJ will be 28-30 and Maxey will be 26-28. there’s a chance you may be making those selections but they’re more than likely trade chips. will they cash on a legit star to play with Maxey and JJJ?

• neither Maxey or JJJ are ever gonna be the best guy on a title team imo, again, do they really have the assets to get a bonafide #1 star caliber guy?

Assets they’re building around

• Maxey

• JJJ

• Zaire Williams

• Kenny Lofton

• 2024 first

• 2025 MEM first

• 2026 first

• 2028 first

• 2028 MEM first

• 2029 first

• 2029 MEM swap

• 2030 first

• 2030 MEM firsr

• 2030 first via PHX or WAS

• plus whatever they get for Harden, Harris, Tucker, Beverly, Green

it’s not great but it’s probably better than any NYK package. if I was them I’d be looking to trade with the Thunder and maybe Pelicans before I did this deal.