Joel Embiid

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado said Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid reached out to him and said he would cover the fines for the double technicals the pair received during Tuesday's matchup between the teams.

"I told [Embiid], 'Man, you know I can't afford that tech. Why you wanna give me that tech?'" a laughing Alvarado joked with reporters on Thursday. "Nah, but he's pretty cool, man. He did a generous thing and actually went out of his way and got in contact with me and he paid the fine for me. We talked during the game and it was all love and respect. Heat of the moment. Nothing personal. Two ball players going at it."

A player's first five technical fouls on the season draw a $2,000 fine per infraction. 

Alvarado, a 23-year-old rookie for the Pels, is currently on a two-way contract. Those contracts are non-guaranteed and for half of the league's minimum salary. This season's minimum salary for a rookie is $925,258, meaning Alvarado is making somewhere in the ballpark of $462,000. 

Hardly chump change, but quite a bit less than the $31.6 million Embiid is clearing. 

James Harden can become a free agent this season, and the Brooklyn Nets star is reportedly interested in joining the Philadelphia 76ers, as ESPN's Kendrick Perkins reported on the All the Smoke podcast.

"James Harden's camp is telling people in Philly he want to come play with [Joel] Embiid next year," Perkins said. "This ain't no lie, this facts."

Harden would have to decline his $47.4 million player option for 2022-23, but the 76ers would likely welcome him with open arms.

76ers team president Daryl Morey was the one who initially brought Harden to the Houston Rockets, and the two spent eight years together, helping Houston reach the playoffs each season.

Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype reported that Morey has been "eying James Harden from afar," while Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported Philadelphia could use Ben Simmons in a sign-and-trade to land Harden in the offseason.

It would provide the 76ers with a true perimeter threat alongside Joel Embiid, who has played at an MVP level this season with averages of 29.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. The team has been as impressive overall with just a 28-19 record, entering Wednesday sixth in the Eastern Conference.

Adding a three-time scoring champion in Harden would provide Philadelphia with an immediate boost and create a legitimate contender in 2022-23 and beyond.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid posted his sixth game of the season with over 40 points Wednesday as he dropped 42 in a 117-107 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.

Embiid made 12 of 24 field goals and 18 of 20 free throws. He also grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked four shots.

The big man is on an absolute tear of late.

He entered Tuesday averaging 33.4 points on 55.2 percent shooting and 10.5 rebounds per game over his last 15 contests, which saw the 76ers go 11-4.

76ers team reporter Lauren Rosen also noted that Embiid has more points than minutes played in each of his last five games:

The Elias Sports Bureau also posted this mind-boggling stat:

Thanks in part to his efforts, the 28-19 76ers are now just two games behind the Miami Heat for first in the Eastern Conference.

Embiid and Philadelphia will look to continue the hot streak when the 76ers face the Los Angeles Lakers at home Thursday.

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said Thursday on 97.5 The Fanatic that the MVP-esque play of Joel Embiid this season has slightly expanded the list of players they'd consider acquiring in a trade for Ben Simmons, from about 30 to 40 names. 

But Morey added that he believes "it’s less likely than likely" a deal will be completed by the Feb. 10 NBA trade deadline. 

The Sixers find themselves at an interesting crossroads. On one hand, failing to move Simmons before the deadline and watching him sit out the entire season potentially wastes a year of his prime. These Sixers have been solid but don't appear to be title contenders without a second star. 

On the other hand, making a bad trade for the sake of shipping out Simmons risks wasting several more years of Embiid's prime with a roster that's still unable to compete for titles. 

"If [fans] think we're burning the season away without trading Ben, we're not only burning this season away if we trade Ben away for something that makes everyone feel good, we're also burning away all the other future seasons," Morey said. "So in essence we're burning way more by doing a marginal trade than if we are patient." 

It's a fair point, though the natural counterpoint is that if teams aren't willing to give the Sixers what they want for Simmons this season, what guarantee is there that a better trade will materialize over the summer?

One thing seems clear, though: The Sixers are active in the trade market and open to moving Simmons if the right trade comes along.

“We would like to add to this team," Morey said. "We have got to do whatever we can to help [Embiid]. If something makes sense for the Sixers, we are going to do that."

The Sixers currently sit at 26-18, fifth in the Eastern Conference. Their success largely comes down to the incredible play of Embiid, who is averaging 28.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three. 

With Simmons refusing to play for the team and Tobias Harris stuck in something of a down year (18.2 PPG, 31.3 percent from three), Embiid has had to be massive. He's answered the call. Now, fans are just hoping Morey can get Embiid a star running mate to ease his burden. 

Joel Embiid scored 50 points in just 27 minutes against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night in a 123-110 win for the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring in every conceivable way possible.

So when he told reporters after the game that he could mimic the game of any number of NBA greats from the past, referencing a conversation he and teammate Tyrese Maxey had before the game, it didn't particularly feel like hyperbole. 

The tape doesn't lie, so we'll have to review some of Embiid's highlights from Wednesday night to see if his walk backed up his talk. 

Embiid said he could play like Shaquille O'Neal, who bullied his opponents unmercifully on the block. Embiid did the same to the Magic:

You want a little bit of Dirk Nowitzki from the big man? A little one-footed fadeaway? Yeah, Embiid has that in his bag:

OK, but surely the big man isn't playing like a superstar shooting guard out on the court like Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan, right? 

Maybe not exactly—he's a 7-footer and weighs 280 pounds, after all—but how many centers run a one-man break or hit a step-back three in someone's face?

And Kobe fans in particular will recognize this type of move:

As Embiid's shooting coach Drew Hanlen tweeted earlier in the day, Embiid's study of players like Kobe and MJ is paying off:

"I was a fan (watching Embiid tonight)," Maxey told reporters about the performance. "It was amazing."

Sixers head coach Doc Rivers had a few more comparisons for Embiid.

"He's a little bit [Hakeem] Olajuwon and a little bit [Kevin] Garnett—that's a heck of a combination," he told reporters.  "… I said it before that I knew he was good when I got here, but I didn't know he could do all this."

Embiid's offensive repertoire continues to grow while he still bangs on the boards (10.5 RPG) and anchors Philly's defense. Last year's MVP runner-up appears to be firmly on the shortlist of candidates for the award yet again. 

And he's borrowing from many of the greats from the past. The ability to be a little bit of Shaq, a little bit of Dirk and a little bit of Kobe is precisely what it means to be Embiid, and why he's one of the game's true superstars. 

Perhaps Joel Embiid should be garnering more consideration for MVP this season.

The Philadelphia 76ers big man was dominant once again while leading his team to a 123-110 victory over the Orlando Magic in Wednesday's Eastern Conference clash. He tied his career-high with 50 points in just 27 minutes while adding 12 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal.

Mo Bamba impressed for the Magic as well with 32 points, four boards, three blocks and two assists, but the visitors were no match for Embiid's greatness.

The four-time All-Star overwhelmed Orlando with his physicality down low, which helped him get to the free-throw line for 17 attempts. He also showed off his touch with a number of fadeaway jumpers, underscoring how much of a matchup nightmare he is for opposing frontcourts.

It was more of the same for Embiid, who has scored more than 30 points in 13 of his last 15 games. He exploded for 41 points in a win over the Boston Celtics during that stretch and has carried the 76ers up the Eastern Conference standings.

Philadelphia improved to 26-18 with the win and is 10-2 in the last 12 games. 

It entered play in sixth place in the Eastern Conference but just 2.5 games behind the top-seeded Chicago Bulls. If the 76ers continue to play as well as it has, it would be surprising to see the team anywhere but the top four of the East when the regular season ends.

Philadelphia is playing this well even though Ben Simmons is yet to take the court this season.

If they eventually trade him for players who can fill in as productive role players around Embiid, they will be even more dangerous in potential playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and others.

Especially if Embiid keeps dropping 30-plus points on a nightly basis.        

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid downplayed the need for the Sixers to make a significant deal before the 2022 NBA trade deadline on Feb. 10.

Embiid discussed the team's outlook after tallying 25 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in a 111-99 victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday night, which was the 76ers' eighth win in their last nine games:

When I look at where we are when we've got most of the team healthy, especially me in the lineup, I think we are 21-9. That's not bad. That's up there with the best records in the NBA. All that tells me is we just got to stay healthy, keep doing what we've been doing...these guys just allow me to do what I do best offensively and defensively.

I feel pretty good. 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. We've got everything we need, we're going to keep on going and I'm happy.

The Sixers have been in the spotlight ahead of the deadline because of continued questions about the future of Ben Simmons, who's yet to play during the 2021-22 season while awaiting a possible move.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday a meeting was held between 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, general manager Elton Brand and Simmons' agent, Rich Paul, about the situation, but it brought the team "no closer to a potential trade."

Paul told the Philly brass Simmons continues to desire a trade and "mental health hurdles" prevent a return to the Sixers, while the front office reiterated its goal of seeking "top 25-caliber players" in return for the All-Star point guard, per Woj.

The 25-year-old LSU product is the team's most valuable trade chip and, with the 76ers playing so well with the deadline looming, it's possible the franchise doesn't make anything beyond some minor depth moves if a Simmons blockbuster doesn't materialize.

Embiid said after Friday's game he's confident the roster is strong enough even without a major addition to accomplish the team's goals this season:

I think so. I think we all got to be our best and when we are at our best I think we can beat anybody. We've seen it a couple of times this year. I just think we need to, I need to keep doing what I've been doing. And then obviously we need consistency from everybody, not just Tobias [Harris], Tyrese [Maxey] and Seth [Curry], or Danny [Green], you know, guys coming off of the bench, getting Shake [Milton] back. We need consistency, everybody coming in every single night with the goal of just doing their job, chipping in offensively and defensively, just playing together, and we'll be fine.

Although the Sixers own a solid 24-17 record, they rank a modest 12th in ESPN's Basketball Power Index and own just a 5 percent chance of winning this year's NBA title, per FiveThirtyEight.

Those numbers suggest Philadelphia would strongly benefit from a blockbuster Simmons trade that brings in at least one more high-level player to pair with Embiid if the team wants to make a serious run toward a championship in the playoffs.

That said, the 76ers haven't been willing to back down from their sky-high demands for Simmons, and the franchise center sounds content to chase a title with the roster as it stands.

Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid got in each other's faces before the Philadelphia 76ers big man waved goodbye during Thursday's matchup, but the Brooklyn Nets star didn't have a problem with the back-and-forth. 

Durant told reporters after Philadelphia's 110-102 victory the incident with Embiid was in "the name of the game."

"He didn't really say nothing," Durant continued. "… We just respect each other so much that natural competitive fire comes out."

Embiid echoed the sentiments:

While the spat may have generated the headlines, it was an impressive win for the 76ers.

Embiid finished with 34 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Tyrese Maxey added 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a supporting role. Durant had 33 points for Brooklyn, while James Harden was dominant with a triple-double of 33 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals.

The 76ers have won three in a row to improve to 19-16 and now have a win over the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed.         

Kevin Durant made his return to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night for the first time in two weeks. Joel Embiid spoiled the party.

Unlike the last time Durant was on the court, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Nets 110-102, led by huge performances from Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

That spoiled a big night from Durant, who did everything he could to get the win but fell just short, and James Harden's triple-double.

During Durant's absence—he last played in a 114-105 win over the Sixers on Dec. 16—the Nets went 2-1 and had three games postponed on account of COVID-19. And it sure looked as though the 23-10 Nets would pick up a third straight win Thursday, too.

But Embiid, Maxey and the 19-16 Sixers had other ideas, pulling away from Brooklyn late in the fourth quarter. Things even got a bit chippy between the teams down the stretch, a carryover from the last matchup.

It was a statement win for a Sixers team that was without head coach Doc Rivers (health and safety protocols).

Key Stats

Joel Embiid, PHI: 34 points, seven rebounds

Tyrese Maxey, PHI: 25 points, seven rebounds

Tobias Harris, PHI: Nine points, 4-of-14 from the field

Kevin Durant, BRK: 33 points, six rebounds

James Harden, BRK: 33 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists

LaMarcus Aldridge, BRK: 12 points, eight rebounds

You Didn't Actually Think Durant Would Be Rusty, Did You?

We're talking about the greatest scorer alive, people. Of course he was going to return with a bang. 

The Nets have been hit hard by COVID-19 this season. The Kyrie Irving situation has left them down a star player and certainly added a bizarre flavor to their campaign. And through it all, they keep on winning, and Durant keeps on scoring. 

There are a lot of worthy MVP candidates to this point in the season. Durant is undoubtedly one of them.

Imagine Embiid with More Help

The Sixers have some solid role players. Curry is a great shooter. Danny Green is a nice two-way player. Matisse Thybulle is one of the NBA's best defenders. Maxey showed yet again on Thursday he is oozing potential. Tobias Harris is overpaid and performed poorly Thursday night, but he'd be a solid third scorer on a contender. 

The issue is that Embiid doesn't have a star running mate, and it's shown all season long. By now it's pretty clear that player is never going to be Ben Simmons, who may never play again for the Sixers anyway. 

Embiid can get this group into the postseason. He's a genuine MVP candidate. He's awesome, and the Nets had no answers for him Thursday.

But imagine him with a true star running mate. Imagine players like Harris, Maxey and Curry being allowed to be role players rather than needing to rotate as the team's second scorer each night. It's a scary thought for the rest of the Eastern Conference if it ever happens. It's a terrifying thought for Sixers fans if it doesn't.

What's Next?

The Nets will host the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Sixers are off until Monday when they'll host the Houston Rockets at 7 p.m. ET.