NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks could have their present and futures colliding either this season or next. If the 76ers continue to stall in the playoffs, there’s a good chance Joel Embiid may want out. If the Mavericks continue to flame out as well, Luka Doncic could want out. What this means that that’s there is a good chance they could form the new Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar duo in the NBA.
The Philadelphia 76ers may have the upper hand here as far as location goes while the Mavericks must do everything to make sure Doncic does not leave. Nothing is certain in today’s NBA and this is what the rest of the league should be worried about.
Despite the success of the Denver Nuggets this past season, the NBA, for the last 10 seasons has been built on the foundation of super teams. Two teams that have managed to stay their course so far have been the 76ers and the Mavericks, but there is a good chance that could change.
If Luka Doncic and Joel Embid decided they want to join forces, the only question is — which team will they suit up for? Will it be in Philly or in Dallas? But looking at this pairing, this is one that the NBA has been missing for quite some time now. A PG with a skill set like Magic paired with a big man who has the defense and scoring ability of Abdul-Jabbar. They could make one heck of a dynasty run with the right pieces around them.
And truth be told, Mark Cuban is just the owner to pull off such a bold move. But all this still hinges on how the 76ers go about their season in 2023. With Embiid letting it slip that he wants to win no matter the city, that should have everyone owner, GM, and player watching the 76ers closely next season. But he’s not alone.
Can The Philadelphia 76ers Land Luka Doncic
Even with the addition of Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks still struggled and missed the playoffs. Now that he’s resigned, the Mavericks’ roster still looks the same so there’s no guarantee things will be better. Doncic asking out is a very high possibility and the Mavericks will do whatever they can to keep the face of their franchise happy. Even if that means shipping Irving to the Philadelphia 76ers along with a role player and draft picks to acquire Embiid.
With James Harden’s time in Philly on its last leg, all the 76ers have to keep Embiid reasonably happy is Tyrese Maxey. Unless they get a nice haul for any Harden trade, the 76ers could find themselves as a seller come trade deadline time in 2024. This could open the door for an Embiid trade to the Mavericks.
Embiid and Doncic are tied to their respective teams all the way through the 2025 season while both have a Player Option in 2026. Combined, Doncic and Embiid will command $90M+ per season if they were on the same team. While they will leave a team a bit handicapped, they have two of the best players at the most important positions.
Luka Doncic is averaging 8.0 assists while playing with the likes and Dwight Powell, Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber, and Dorian Finney-Smith. Imagine what he could do with a player of Embiid’s skill set who just finished his second straight season of leading the NBA in scoring as a center.
These two will easily be as deadly as Magic and Kareem and Shaq and Kobe. It seems crazy to think this could come to fruition but if both teams find themselves struggling by the trade deadline, there will be calls made.
