“Gonna give you Kevin Durant and a draft pick” - Lou Williams laughs off at the idea of trading Joel Embiid
joel-embiid
In a recent episode of The Underground Lounge, Lou Williams found himself in a discussion with Philadelphia 76ers fan – Spank, wherein the latter proposed the idea of trading Joel Embiid, citing his recurrent playoff injury woes.
However, when Spank suggested the idea of receiving Kevin Durant and a first-round pick in exchange for the 7’0” center, the three-time Sixth Man of the Year only saw him as an unhappy Sixers fan who fails to recognize the value of having a versatile two-way big man like Troel.
“Grass ain’t greener on the other side. listen, you not gonna miss Embiid until you don’t have a 7-foot 50-point scoring machine in your paint… Who would you trade for him?” Williams asked.
“So I’m gonna give you Kevin Durant and a draft pick for the motherf***er that you keep talking about his knee bad. If you got 50 in the house already, why you want a different one? You just unhappy, man.”
Can Embiid be replaced with KD?
Although Durant is undoubtedly more versatile in his scoring abilities and boasts superior accuracy from both beyond the arc and the free-throw line compared to Joel, it’s worth noting that his slender frame leaves him with significant defensive vulnerabilities.
Furthermore, amidst the constantly evolving landscape of modern NBA regulations, the 7-time All-Star not only stands out as a superior rim protector and rebounder compared to KD, but he has also honed his skill in drawing fouls in the paint and capitalizing on free throw opportunities whenever he is unable to score from open plays.
Considering that he has led the league in scoring over the past three seasons (disregarding the NBA’s 65-game rule), double-downs his ability to shoulder the scoring burden with dominance, despite possessing a somewhat limited scoring arsenal.
More importantly, a major drawback to relying on Durant as the primary superstar of a team stems from his age. Despite his continued ability to average 27-30 points per game in the regular season, even at the age of 35, acquiring him will only limit the championship window of the Sixers.
Additionally, letting go of one of the best modern-day talents in Embiid could severely diminish Philly’s competitiveness in the Eastern Conference, especially considering the increasing pace of play in today’s game.
Joel’s postseason struggles are a sign to worry
While it seems convenient to shift blame onto other players like Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, and James Harden for their inability to elevate Embiid’s game in the postseason, the reality is that The Process himself struggles to replicate his regular season dominance in the playoffs. Whether it’s due to injury or carrying an injury scare, this inconsistency has been one factor preventing the Sixers from advancing past the second round in the last seven seasons.
Take, for instance, the last 3 NBA seasons, during which JoJo established himself as a bonafide scorer. He averaged 30.6 points per game in the 2020-21 regular season, but in the playoffs, his scoring output fell to 23.6 points. Similarly, during the 2021-22 regular season, he averaged 33.1 points, yet his postseason scoring average dropped to 23.7 points per game. This pattern was witnessed even this season as well. As a result, he is now the only MVP who hasn’t reached the Conference Finals ever.
Safe to say, while loyalists can sympathize with Joel for carrying an extra burden on his shoulders every season, Spank’s sentiments only highlight how the fans are are growing tired of seeing their marquee center never be at full health when it matters the most.