The Sixers have been hounded by trade rumors all season due to the uncertain status of Ben Simmons. They’re also reportedly interested in moving Tobias Harris‘ contract in a Simmons deal.
However, the team’s biggest star Joel Embiid doesn’t see any urgency to make a big trade, Tim Bontemps of ESPN writes. He notes that the team is doing just fine without Simmons.
“When I look at where we are when we got most of the team in the lineup, especially me in the lineup, then we are 21-9. That’s not bad,” Embiid said. “That’s up there with the best records in the NBA. So, all that tells me is that we just got to stay healthy, keep doing what we’ve been doing. I feel pretty good, and I don’t think we’ve played our best basketball yet. We still got a long way to go. We’re missing guys here and there that could really help us. There’s really no urgency to change anything. I think we got everything we need.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- One of the “missing” players that Embiid was referring to, guard Shake Milton, won’t be back in the near future, Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. Coach Doc Rivers said that Milton is still in pain due to a back contusion. “He’s still really struggling. I don’t foresee him back anytime soon,” Rivers said. “The fact that I probably could beat him in a race today would tell me he’s a long way away.” Milton hasn’t played since January 3.
- Cam Reddish won’t play for the Knicks right away. The forward, who was acquired from Atlanta this week, is dealing with an ankle sprain and will be out “for a while,” New York coach Tom Thibodeau told the New York Post’s Greg Joyce (Twitter link) and other media members. Thibodeau is eager to see what Reddish can do once he’s healthy. “It gives us an opportunity to look at Cam. … Size, athleticism, wing position,” he said. “Sometimes a change of scenery is good for people. So we’ll see how it unfolds.”
- The Nets have played much better on the road than at home and they’ll have Kyrie Irving available for most of their upcoming games, Peter Botte of the New York Post notes. Brooklyn is entering a stretch where it plays nine of its next 11 on the road and Irving is eligible to participate in those games. Brooklyn is 15-4 on the road and 11-11 at home. “I think it’s going around the league a little bit where teams — good teams, in particular — are having less impressive records at home than on the road,” coach Steve Nash said. “I don’t really know why that is.”
Who’s bigger, Embiid or his ego?
Its called confidence friend, built on knowing that there’s nobody in this league who can stop you.
It’s too bad Reddish is injured was hoping to see what he can do. Still looking like a upgrade over Knox since he didn’t play much.
Hahahahahaha that guy will tear an ACL any day now to stop himself. Dudes a Chump
Except for Kawhi and Gasol. Put that loser tag on his forehead he will never shake off. He will always be chasing that lost opportunity. Sad, really.
When you are the best player in the NBA, and you hear about other KD,LBJ,And some other players that are not on the same level as Joel is. Someone had to let the wold knop
Who ever thought it was a good idea to give Harris that contract. Sure he is a good player, but his contract is ridiculous.
He improved every year in the league up to that point and they already lost Butler so they didn’t want to lose him too.Plus Elton Brand was the Sixers GM at the time and Brand is alright at team building but sucks at negotiating contracts. If Morey or another experienced GM was in charge that summer things would probably have gone differently
I remember at the time people were talking about his and Middletons extensions. Both were fringe all star level players, both co stars on contending teams, both had always improved since entering the league.
Most people knew both would get overpaid cause their respective teams needed them to stay but that Middleton deserved his deal a little more.
Looking back at it now, Middleton has gone on to be the better player and deserve his deal. Tobias hasn’t done as much but he’s been alright, it’s not like he’s regressed badly or cause any issue or anything. He’s just overpaid but still effective and efficient.
Kinda annoying they are looking to add him to a Simmons deal. It’s just complicates things and makes it harder to get that deal done. If you want to move Tobias and his contract do it seperate or just wait until the Ben issues are over with.
A complicated deal for BS is more likely than a simple one!
Honestly – it’s still pretty close. Tobias is having a down year, but he’s also playing with almost no playmaking around him, which hurts. If we look at last year, for example:
Tobias
2,014 Minutes Played
PER 20.0
TS% .597
WS/48 .170
BPM +3.7
VORP 2.9
Middleton
2,269 Minutes Played
PER 18.2
TS% .588
WS/48 .135
BPM +1.3
VORP 1.9
Tobias isn’t a max player. But frankly – neither is Middleton. Both got the max because, as you said, their team’s had championship aspirations and couldn’t afford to lose them.
I still think if you put Tobias in a better situation (ie on a team with a legitimate playmaker) he can be an All Star caliber, scoring wing. But he’s in a poor role this year in Philly.
Yeah now you’ve shown the numbers if you didn’t know better you’d think Tobias is more deserving of his money. However with the bucks winning the title and Middelton becoming an all star you’d say he was the better investment.
I personally have always liked Tobias, I don’t think he’s worth that money but he’s a nice player and good in the locker room and no issues off the court. You’d rather have Dame, or Butler or someone of that ilk but it’s not a deal like Russ or Wall that your stuck with and the player is underperforming.
I also think Tobias is still a good fit for us in Philly as that 3rd piece. Perfect for that role it’s just the fact he’s being paid like a top 15 player when he’s more like a top 30/40 player
#FreeBenSimmons
Embid is right. Simmons is totally irrelevant to them. Let him rot. And don’t think all the GM’s haven’t noticed.
Joel continuing to throw subliminals at Simmons in the press—you can’t blame him though.