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The wheels for league expansion are rolling. As of the moment, Adam Silver and the rest of the board have approved the exclusive expansion ventures for Las Vegas and Seattle. Normally, people think about which players they are going to retain and who becomes the franchise star for these new squads. In a latest The Sporting News NBA expansion mock draft, it looks like the Philadelphia 76ers' 'Process' era will come to an end soon while Joel Embiid finds a new home.
Embiid goes No. 2 in NBA expansion draft , heads to Las Vegas
The Sporting News' Stephen Noh projects that the unnamed Las Vegas franchise will get the second pick in the NBA expansion draft. It is highly likely that the Seattle SuperSonics end up picking an aging Anthony Davis from the Washington Wizards. So, who comes next? Well, it's none other than Joel Embiid.
"By the time he's 34, his health will have declined even more and Philadelphia may be eager to get off one of the most overpaid players in the league. Embiid is a big name for Las Vegas that they can put on their marquee. He'll make them competitive in the 40 games that he manages to suit up for," Noh wrote.
At the time of the 2028-29 NBA expansion, Embiid will be 34 years old. The 76ers will have likely found their footing with guys like VJ Edgecombe and a prime Tyrese Maxey. Not to mention, their MVP's health would only start to decay after missing significant time throughout many years due to injuries. Notably, his contract situation will also be very favorable to the Las Vegas NBA expansion franchise. It will exactly be that 2028-29 season when his three-year $192.9 million contract ends. All of this means that they can fairly evaluate what he would be given moving forward instead of shouldering a rough and unproductive contract.
Moreover, he will still have ample time to compete for a Larry O'Brien trophy with Las Vegas. 2028 will be a huge year for the current 76ers star. Embiid will likely play for another Team USA gold medal while also notching a fresh start with a new franchise.
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