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Joel Embiid excites Boston Celtics fans with trade tease

By Sam LaFrance

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 14: (L-R) Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers shake hands after game seven of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 14, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 14: (L-R) Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers shake hands after game seven of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 14, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics fans were very excited on Twitter Monday, after Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid hinted at the possibility of requesting a trade. Embiid joined Maverick Carter for an interview at the Uninterrupted Film Festival on July 13, where he teased that he may wind up playing for a different team at some point.

“I just want to win a championship, whatever it takes. I don’t know where that’s going to be, whether it’s in Philly or anywhere else,” Embiid told Carter. “I just want to have a chance to accomplish that, I want to see what that feels like to win that first one, and then you can think about the next one. It’s not easy, it takes more than one two or three guys. Got to have good people around you, and myself, every single day I work hard to be at that level so I can push us to make it happen. Every single day that’s working toward that goal, that’s where my mindset has always been. MVP is just an added bonus.”

Video of the chat surfaced days later, and fans began to dream of the reigning MVP suiting up in Celtic green. CLNS Media tweeted a video of Embiid’s quote, to which fans replied with jersey photoshops and trade proposals.

What would it take for the Boston Celtics to pry Joel Embiid away from the Philadelphia 76ers?

The 29-year-old big man is under contract with the Philadelphia 76ers through the end of the 2025-26 season, at least. He has a player option for the following year, where he’ll make $59 million, per Spotrac.

In the case that Embiid was to join the Boston Celtics, it’d have to be via trade. What would it take? Probably Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, and more. Brown and Williams would have to be included in the deal (unless Jayson Tatum was involved — which he would not be) for salary-matching purposes. Then the 76ers would have to weigh options of other offers, perhaps calling on the Celtics to throw in draft capital or more players.

The idea is very preliminary at this point, but it’s July — what else is there to discuss, really?

Does it make sense for the Boston Celtics to chase Joel Embiid?

Yeah.

Brown’s future with the Celtics is cloudy as it is. The team hasn’t been able to reach an extension with the 26-year-old All-NBA forward over the past few weeks, causing uneasiness amongst the fanbase. Of course, these negotiations remain ongoing, and the struggle is a mutual thing — not just Brown deciding he’d like to play elsewhere.

But, his desire to remain a Celtic has been called into question many times, making the idea of including him in a blockbuster for Embiid much less painful.

As for the inclusion of Williams, sure. Boston would be able to fill his role with the man coming back in the deal. The Texas A&M alumni is exciting to watch, but replacing him with Embiid isn’t the most gut-wrenching thought.

At the end of the day, Philly would likely tell Boston to kick rocks, as they wouldn’t want to send their star to a division rival.

For more on the Embiid to Boston speculation, check out a recent episode of the How ‘Bout Them Celtics Podcast, where CelticsBlog’s Jack Simone and I toss the idea around.