Knicks’ dream Embiid coup a ‘slim’ chance; Celtics player makes trade hopes ‘clear’: NBA Rumour Mill
The Knicks are on the hunt once more for a franchise-altering and championship-caliber star to pair with Jalen Brunson, and experiences point out they could be keeping track of Philadelphia 76ers star heart Joel Embiid.
On the newest episode of ‘The Hoop Collective’ podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon stated Embiid is on the Knicks’ watchlist, hoping issues go “haywire” for the 76ers if the 2022-23 MVP requests a commerce if he’s not glad together with his scenario.
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“They’re not hoping for patience, they’re hoping for The Process. I don’t know if that’s coming, but they’ve looked at that situation in Philly and there’s been a hope in New York that stuff in Philly will go haywire to the point where Embiid will ask out,” MacMahon stated.
“I don’t know the percentage odds on that, I would say they are slim, but that’s been the hope.”
After the 76ers misplaced to the Celtics within the Eastern Conference semifinals in seven video games — the third consecutive 12 months they misplaced within the semis — questions have circulated about what the crew will appear like come subsequent season.
The 76ers already made a training change, as former head coach Doc Rivers was fired after the Game 7 loss.
It was the seventh consecutive 12 months Rivers has not been previous the second spherical of the playoffs — seven seasons with the Clippers and three with the 76ers.
Philadelphia has since employed Nick Nurse 5 weeks after the Raptors parted methods with him after he guided them to an NBA title in 2019 and received the NBA’s Coach of the Year in 2020.
It appears unlikely that Embiid — the face of the 76ers for seven years — will transfer on, as he sits getting ready to a four-year, $210 million supermax extension, signed final 12 months, that doesn’t begin till subsequent season.
If Embiid had been to request a commerce, it might seemingly would trigger Philadelphia to must rebuild once more.
James Harden, who can decide out of his contract this summer season, is anticipated to reunite with the Houston Rockets as a free agent, leaving his deliberate championship associate behind.
Embiid, 29, earned his six-time All-Star nomination this season after averaging 33.1 factors per sport — his career-high — together with 10.2 rebounds per sport whereas capturing .548% from the sector.
This article first appeared on The New York Postand was reproduced with permission.
CELTICS BACK IN COACH BUT PLAYER MAKES TRADE HOPES ‘CLEAR’
Elsewhere, Joe Mazzulla will return as head coach of the Boston regardless of dropping a winner-take-all showdown with Miami, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens stated.
But there may already be one participant out the door this summer season based on a report from The Athletic.
The Celtics may have turn out to be the primary crew in NBA historical past to win a playoff collection after dropping the primary three video games however had been routed 103-84 by the Heat in Game 7.
Mazzulla’s destiny was doubtful after woeful performances in key video games, however Stevens made it clear the Celtics, who promoted assistant Mazzulla after the firing of Ime Udoka as coach final September and eliminated his interim tag in February, is the person for the job.
“I thought he did a really good job with this group,” Stevens stated.
“He’s a terrific leader. He’ll only get better at anything that he can learn from this year because he’s constantly trying to learn and he’s accountable. Those leadership qualities are hard to find.
“When you can show all those through the expectations and the microscope that he was under, that’s hard to do.”
Mazzulla, a 34-year-old American, guided the Celtics to a 57-25 marketing campaign, one sport behind Milwaukee for one of the best document within the NBA this season.
The Celtics, who misplaced final 12 months’s NBA Finals to Golden State, ousted Atlanta within the first spherical of the playoffs and outlasted Philadelphia in seven video games within the second spherical then rallied from 3-0 down within the convention remaining solely to fall at residence within the decider.
“Everybody is going to overreact to the best players and coaches after the game. That’s always the way it is. We have to be able to judge things on the whole,” Stevens stated.
“Was he perfect? Would he like to have some moments back? Every coach would. Our players and our staff believe in him and we’ve got to do our best to support him going forward.”
One change to the crew although may see Payton Pritchard stroll out the door, based on Jay King and Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
Pritchard averaged simply 7.1 minutes within the postseason and was already attracting some consideration on the commerce market following the acquisition of Malcolm Brogdon.
“With the new onerous CBA rules looming after next season, the front office will likely have to decide in the next 12 months whether it can afford its expensive veteran depth,” King and Weiss wrote in a complete have a look at Boston’s season.
“Payton Pritchard has made it clear he hopes to be traded this summer, according to multiple team sources, so will the Celtics move him if they trade one of their core guards?”
There are strategies Jaylen Brown may very well be traded if the Celtics actually need to shake issues up, with the star guard eligible to signal a five-year supermax extension on July 1.
Team president Stevens although stated he has had “nothing but great conversations” with Brown.
“I can say, without a doubt, we want Jaylen to be here. He’s a big part of us. We believe in him and I’m thankful for him,” added Stevens.
— with AFP
