Joel Embiid and the echoes of that damned Hawks series

Can an MVP add more pressure to his team's front office if the pressure is already maximal?

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

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The Tower of Babel; Pieter Bruegel The Elder; 1563

Joel Embiid made some news over the weekend from the UNINTERRUPTED Film Festival with a seemingly off-the-cuff comment.

“I just want to win a championship. Whatever it takes. I don’t know where that’s gonna be. Whether it’s in Philly or anywhere else. I just want to have a chance.”

That “or anywhere else” is going to drive years’ worth of sports media content. Let’s add to the pile.

We don’t know what Embiid did or did not intend with this comment. Some have noted that Embiid is exceedingly careful in what he says about the Sixers and past failures and successes. That’s good input here in reading the tea leaves. But also, even careful speakers say stuff that comes off more definitive than they intend sometimes. Until and unless Embiid says more, or a reporter close to Embiid clarified on his behalf, we don’t know if he’s seriously weighing his future in Philadelphia or if he’s far away from plotting an exit. (He’s under contract for three seasons, for what it’s worth.)

There is no way that the mere idea that Embiid might be getting restless is a surprise to Sixers fans. This is part of the reason the early playoff exits hurt so much! This potentiality is baked into the heartbreak: fans of teams with superstar players know that postseason failure can lead to their superstars eventually looking for greener pastures. It’s part of what creates such high stakes for teams like the Sixers, Celtics, Mavericks, Bucks and Lakers. Frankly, it’s the most normal way things can go sideways for a team with a superstar. Embiid can’t possibly have created any new fear among the Philly faithful. He just watered the seeds already sprouting.

Let’s also recognize that Embiid is not saying anything remotely controversial. He was the league’s MVP last regular season, and the team only made the final eight of the league. They haven’t gotten any further at any point in his illustrious career. Of course he doesn’t know if he can win a championship with the Sixers. The team has squandered some decent chances already (with his playoff performance having some culpability), and the roster faces some new challenges after those failures.

Let’s also recognize that this statement — planned or not — doesn’t create more pressure on Daryl Morey to nail the James Harden dismount. The pressure was already at a maximum.