The Philadelphia 76ers process with Joel Embiid is sadly over, and the future is here with youngsters VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Adem Bona, and company.
This sucks to say, but Embiid is no longer a fit in Philadelphia, and it’s clear from his frustration with team reporters, to now being put on a minutes restriction. Listen, a restriction is fine to keep on an injured player, but to keep Embiid out at the end of a close game that went into overtime is absurd.
Philly is off to a hot start, but the truth is that the team is slowly moving in a different direction, and Embiid would undoubtedly help out another team looking to contend. This is a prediction, not a report.
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Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: C Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: C Naz Reid, C Rudy Gobert, 2028 MIN 1st Rounder
Why the Timberwolves Would Trade for Embiid
Minnesota has been searching for a true game-changing big man who can both anchor defense and carry a high-usage offensive load. Acquiring Embiid would instantly elevate their ceiling, particularly in the Western Conference where having a dominant interior presence remains a difference-maker.
The former MVP Embiid remains one of the most dangerous offensive bigs in the league when healthy, capable of dominating post and perimeter scoring and anchoring pick-and-pop sets.
The Timberwolves have complementary pieces: stars like Anthony Edwards and role players who could benefit from a shot-creator big man drawing attention. By swapping in Embiid, Minnesota signals a “win-now” commitment while also giving their roster a true two-way pivot.
From the Timberwolves’ perspective: if they believe Embiid can stay healthy and deliver at a high level, it’s an all-in move that could boost them from contender to legitimate title threat to pair with Anthony Edwards.
Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, & Jared McCain the Future
While Embiid coming to Minnesota would be a star-driven move, there’s also a strategic story at play for Philadelphia: the 76ers are building a younger core around back-court assets such as Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe (and even Jared McCain).
Maxey has emerged as a bona fide star. Edgecombe’s rookie debut was electric, showing scoring upside and playmaking ability. The idea in Philadelphia could be shifting toward a new era: trade the aging/fragile big man for assets and give the younger guards the reins. Meanwhile, the 76ers have Adem Bona as their center of the future—another reason why this trade scenario makes sense from Philly’s vantage.
Bona (6’10”, UCLA product, drafted by Philadelphia in 2024) is viewed as their long-term internal option at center. With him in place, the urgency to keep Embiid may fade and the incentive to trade him rises.
Joel Embiid Contract
Embiid signed a three-year, approximately $193 million extension with the 76ers on September 20 2024. The deal carries a player option for the 2028-29 season.
From Minnesota’s perspective in this deal, taking on Embiid means accepting significant salary commitment, and Philadelphia is getting off that burden (to some degree) and acquiring younger/cheaper assets (Gobert and Reid) plus the future pick.
Joel Embiid Stats
Joel Embiid has had a very limited start to the 2025-26 campaign. According to lineups.com his per-game numbers for the season list him being 31 years old, and show that through his appearances he’s averaged 4.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
In his season opener on October 22, 2025 against the Boston Celtics he played 20 minutes and logged 4 points (1-9 FG), 6 rebounds and 2 assists. Those numbers reflect a very restricted role and minutes limit as he manages his return.
Demarcus Cousins Comment on Potential Trade
Former NBA All-Star and current analyst DeMarcus Cousins recently weighed in while discussing the 2025-26 season, saying that he believes the 76ers front office may already be talking about moving on from Embiid.
Cousins noted that although Philadelphia had a 3-0 start to the season, it was powered by their backcourt (Maxey, Edgecombe) more than Embiid—and he questioned whether the team might actually be better without Embiid.
His commentary adds real-world narrative weight to why this trade proposal is plausible and not just hypothetical.
Joel Embiid Injury History
Joel Embiid’s injury history is extensive and well-documented. Early in his career he underwent foot surgery before even playing an NBA game, missing the entire 2014-15 season thanks to a navicular stress fracture.
Since then, he has dealt with recurring knee, foot, hand, and orbital injuries — for example a torn left meniscus in 2017-18, knee tendinitis in 2018-19, multiple left knee bone bruises and meniscus issues in later seasons.
Most recently, his left knee problems cost him significant time and led to a season-ending shutdown in 2024-25.
Paul George Injury
Paul George is still recovering from left-knee and adductor issues that ended his 2024-25 season prematurely. On March 17, 2025, the Philadelphia 76ers announced George was ruled out for the remainder of the year after receiving injections in the left adductor and left knee.
The following offseason he underwent arthroscopic surgery on the left knee and entered a rehab program, with his full return to be determined before training camp.
Heading into the 2025-26 season he remains sidelined from opening night
Final Thoughts
A trade sending Joel Embiid to Minnesota in exchange for Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid and a 2028 first-round pick is compelling on multiple levels:
For Minnesota: They acquire an elite-level big man with the offensive and defensive upside to push them into true contender territory. The risk is injury and contract—but if it pays off, the reward is massive.
For Philadelphia: They offload a large contract (and health risk) of a 31-year-old center, and in return they get Gobert (still a solid defensive anchor), Reid (younger front-court depth) and a future pick—and they cement their transition to a younger core built around backcourt stars and emerging big man option (Adem Bona).
The narrative backdrop (Embiid’s knee issues, rumblings of team tension, front-office openness to moving on) all make this trade feel timely rather than theoretical.
If the Timberwolves believe their window is now, this move would say they’re all-in. If the 76ers are ready to shift gears and lean into the guard-centric era, it also makes sense from their rebuild/refresh vantage.