76ers, there's a possibility of him joining the Rockets.

Amidst reports of James Harden's potential departure from the 76ers, the situation becomes more intriguing if his teammate Joel Embiid, who secured the NBA MVP award last season, contemplates a similar move. Notably, the 29-year-old center recently removed any references to Philadelphia from his social media accounts.

Should both Harden and Embiid decide to exit, it could signal a significant rebuilding phase for the 76ers. In such a scenario, a team like the Houston Rockets, with a wealth of promising young talents and future draft picks, might emerge as a contender for Embiid's services.

Prominent sportswriter Kelly Iko, known for his work with The Athletic, raised the prospect in a recent episode of The Athletic NBA Show, highlighting the connection between Joel and Ime Udoka:

"Another team to keep an eye on is the Houston Rockets, mainly due to the relationship between Joel and Ime Udoka. While there might be adjustments in the coming year, if Embiid voices a desire to leave down the line, the New York Knicks and Houston could be two intriguing destinations."

Udoka's presence at Embiid's wedding during the summer and Embiid's positive reaction to Udoka's appointment as the Rockets' head coach, following his role as an assistant coach with the 76ers in the 2019-20 season, add weight to the speculation.

From Philadelphia's viewpoint, trading Embiid to the Western Conference, such as to the Rockets, could be more acceptable than sending him to an Eastern Conference rival like the Knicks, located just around 100 miles away.

Nonetheless, Houston's pursuit of Embiid might not materialize immediately due to financial considerations. With Embiid set to earn $47.6 million in the upcoming season, the Rockets might need to wait until the middle of the 2023-24 season, when the 2023 offseason signings become eligible for trade, to match his salary in a potential deal.

If Embiid were to present an offer before the February 2024 trade deadline or the subsequent offseason, the Rockets could potentially tempt the Sixers with a package of young prospects and draft assets. Considering Embiid's connection with Udoka and the Rockets' potential for competitiveness after nurturing their young talents and signing players like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, this scenario gains depth.

At present, there's no indication that Embiid is seeking an exit from Philadelphia, and the Rockets might not have the immediate means to trade for him even if he expressed such a desire. Nonetheless, this situation warrants observation in the coming months.

Embiid's impressive averages of 33.1 points (54.8% FG, 33.0% 3-pointers), 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game last season underscore his significant impact on the court.

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