For many fans, it still hasn’t really hit home that LeBron James is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
James chose to join Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia, choosing the 76ers over a potential return to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, as well as offers from the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 76ers’ roster is very impressive, but there are still plenty of issues.
Max Kellerman Calls for the Philadelphia 76ers to Trade Joel Embiid Despite LeBron James’ Signing
Max Kellerman and Rich Paul, speaking on the Game Over podcast, discussed James and his fit with the other 76ers’ stars.
Paul compared James’ role to Draymond Green’s with the dynastic Warriors, and Kellerman offered his thoughts on Embiid’s fit on the team, arguing that Embiid should be dealt.
“I don’t think they can keep Embiid,” Kellerman said. “I don’t think the team can keep Embiid because he’s like a victim of his own excellence.”
max kellerman tells rich paul the 76ers should trade joel embiid 👀
(via game over) pic.twitter.com/kxcEKzoens
— the aesthetic (@theaestheticnba) July 31, 2026
Kellerman expanded: “In the sense, I don’t care how good he’s feeling in the offseason – and look if he stays healthy the whole time and wins the whole thing then he proves me wrong, but he is such a big piece to intergrate and then have to work around and then if he comes back to integrate and every year it’s something else.”
“If I’m the Sixers, I’m moving off Embiid as soon as possible.”
Kellerman admitted how he could be, saying he was the best player on the team when healthy, but says he can’t count on him, because he is in and out of the lineup so much.
Paul discussed Embiid’s ability as a mismatch, and there is no denying that.
When healthy, the 32-year-old is still a major problem.
Embiid only played in 38 regular-season games last year, and although he still put up huge numbers – he averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game – Kellerman’s point is that having to continuously adjust to Embiid in and out of the lineup is an issue.
However, without Embiid, where do the 76ers stand?
Embiid was instrumental in the 76ers’ first-round upset of the Boston Celtics last year. In the decisive Game 7, Embiid scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the 76ers’ 109-100 victory that completed a comeback from a 3-1 deficit.
Although Embiid hasn’t played more than half of the games in a season since playing 66 in 2022-23, he did win MVP, averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds,, and 4.2 assists per game.
The 76ers obviously don’t need Embiid to put up those kinds of numbers now that he has the best supporting cast he has ever had, but he’s going to need to be healthy come the postseason if the 76ers want to have a real shot of dethroning the New York Knicks.
