Philadelphia 76ers Trade Joel Embiid To The OKC Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder, following their first NBA championship, prioritized securing their core players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a historic four-year, $285 million supermax extension, while Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren both agreed to five-year rookie max extensions.

The team also extended supporting players, giving Jaylin Williams a three-year, $24 million extension and signing rookie guard Ajay Mitchell to a three-year, $9 million deal after his Summer League performance. Additionally, they acquired young defenders center Thomas Sorber and wing Brooks Barnhizer.

Beyond waiving Daniel Theis and minor draft-related moves, the Thunder maintained roster stability. They kept their salary cap flexible, staying below the luxury tax threshold and retaining their mid-level exception for potential veteran additions.

THIS IS A PREDICTION, NOT A REPORT. The article speculates the Thunder could make a major move to become dominant, proposing a hypothetical trade where Oklahoma City acquires Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Isaiah Hartenstein, Aaron Wiggins, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick. The rationale argues that adding Embiid, despite recent knee issues limiting him to 19 games last season (where he averaged nearly 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists), would make the Thunder "borderline unbeatable" due to his elite post presence forcing double-teams and opening shots for their core players. His midrange shooting and vision are also cited as fitting well with the Thunder's offensive style and playoff needs.