Anthony Davis hasn't played a game for the Washington Wizards yet, but that didn't stop the trade speculation this offseason, especially not after LeBron James signed with the Sixers. Between AD's desire to play for a contender and his former superstar teammate joining Philadelphia to try to win his fifth title, that line of thinking made at least some sense.
And it still does, even after hearing what James said on Friday's episode of the "Mind the Game" podcast about Joel Embiid and why he chose the Sixers:
"One of the most important things is the big fella. And the only thing he has not done, and that's win a championship. I want to try to help him get that first one. I hope that I can be that final little piece to help him get over the hump. It's time to dig deeper into The Process."
If Embiid is one of the main reasons James went to Philadelphia, that should keep the front office from trading him, whether during the season or next summer, right? The Sixers could consider that, but if they need to trade Embiid to put the team in a better position to make a deep playoff run, that's what their priority should be, if it's even possible.
And they could have even more reason to do so if Davis hits the market, whether that's because an extension doesn't happen or AD decides he wants to leave.
Sixers could be a destination for Anthony Davis
To make this possible, two things would have to happen — Davis would have to be healthy and playing like the two-way force he can be on a team that isn't racking up wins, and Embiid would struggle to stay on the court, leaving the Sixers without a reliable center.
Adem Bona, who is currently dealing with a left foot sprain, and Ariel Hukporti are Philadelphia's two backups, meaning it will be at even more of a disadvantage if Embiid has to miss significant time.
Trading for Davis would mean the Sixers taking on a different injury risk given his background, which could keep this kind of deal from happening. But AD's connection with James dating back to their time in Los Angeles could sway Philadelphia to roll the dice. You have to think that, even with LeBron wanting to help Embiid finally experience what it's like to win a title, he'd be down to reunite with his old co-star that he's already stood at the mountaintop with.
Sixers would probably be better off keeping Embiid, but will that matter?
Embiid is on one of the worst deals in the league, but his contract situation isn't nearly as dire as AD's. The Sixers center will make just below $58 million this upcoming season, $62.6 million in 2027-28, and he has a $67.3 million player option in 2028-29. Davis, on the other hand, became extension-eligible on Aug. 6, as he has a $62.8 million player option he could decline next summer.
Given that Philadelphia is already locked into a deal with an oft-injured big man and trading for another would require giving up assets, the Sixers could decide it's best to ride out the season with Embiid. The time has passed for the team to try to justify it by saying it would help boost their chances of getting LeBron, since he's already in town.
None of this accounts for the fact that it wouldn't make sense for the Wizards to take on the remainder of Embiid's contract, which could prevent this trade from materializing. But Davis' desire to be part of a winning environment and his connection with LeBron could make this whole thing even more of a talking point leading up to the deadline.
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