Ahead of last week's trade deadline, the Philadelphia 76ers would listen to offers for anyone on the team, including injured rookie center Joel Embiid, reports Mark Heisler of Forbes.
The asking price, as per usual with Philadelphia, was draft picks. More specifically: a top pick in this year's draft.
On one hand, this isn't shocking. It's been assumed - but never spoken of by general manager Sam Hinkie or anyone in the 76ers organization - that Embiid, the No. 3 pick in last June's draft is untouchable, and in the wake of Pablo S. Torre's feature for ESPN on the team's long-term plan, it's less surprising.
On the other hand, many are asking the Sixers how long and how effectively this plan will unfold. For instance: what would the Sixers want in this year's draft that's a more attractive than Embiid? Perhaps consensus No. 1 Jahlil Okafor?
Beyond that, the Sixers already have their own lottery pick, and, should it fall out of the top five (admittedly unlikely), the Los Angeles Lakers' pick.
The trade that sent Michael Carter-Williams out of Philly wasn't a surprise as rumors had the point guard on the block off and on for a year. K.J. McDaniels was probably more unexpected, but maybe not, given that the 76ers probably didn't want to match an offer sheet this summer with the surprising second-round pick.
At some point the Sixers need to start actually building. Listening to offers for a core player is one thing, actually putting them on the market is another.
