
Joel Embiid's reaction to Jrue Holiday trade adds even more pressure on 76ers to resolve James Harden problem
CBSN
Embiid clearly isn't happy with the way the offseason has gone for Philadelphia
The NBA's Eastern Conference arms race has escalated to mutually assured destruction, with the Milwaukee Bucks adding Damian Lillard and the Boston Celtics happily collecting the exiled Jrue Holiday. Milwaukee was briefly the betting favorite to win the NBA title but has now been supplanted by Boston after the Holiday deal. No matter which angle you peer through the magnifying glass, the Bucks and Celtics are the clear favorites in the conference.
That means a frustrating summer for Philadelphia 76ers fans has become exponentially worse in the past week. They started the offseason with a disgruntled James Harden issuing a trade request, and here they sit on the eve of media day -- still rostering a disgruntled James Harden (who boldly called 76ers head decision-maker Daryl Morey "a liar" in August), while also having lost two significant rotation pieces in Shake Milton and Georges Niang.
The 76ers were reportedly in the running for Damian Lillard ... who went to a conference rival. Then they turned their sights to Jrue Holiday ... who went to a division rival. All of this has happened amid rumors swirling about reigning MVP Joel Embiid potentially sniffing around for greener pastures, with teams like the Knicks and Heat looming like sharks in the water, ready to strike if and when the big man says he wants out.