Would Spurs Trade Victor Wembanyama to 76ers for MVP Joel Embiid?

Entering a new offseason, the San Antonio Spurs and the Philadelphia 76ers currently sit opposite one another on the hunt for a title. 

The Spurs haven't found the success they've searched for since the departure of Tim Duncan in 2016, but could be on the verge of finding it once again now that top prospect Victor Wembanyama is set to enter the scene. In other words, they're an up and coming team with hopes of re-entering the Western Conference scene. 

Philadelphia is a different story. 

It sits on the far end, feeling close to winning, but not close enough, as it clings onto any semblances of hope "The Process" era can bring, finding itself at a crossroads.

On one hand, the 76ers have the reigning MVP Joel Embiid at the center of their roster. The veteran center has never averaged under 20 points per game for a season, and brings an elite level talent with a strong passion for the game to Philly. 

But on the other hand, the franchise — now more than 20 years removed from a conference finals appearance — is being forced to ask itself a harrowing question:

How far has Embiid really gotten them, and is "The Process" over? 

"The Process is dead," ESPN's Alan Hahn said after the 76ers' sixth straight early playoff exit. "After 10 years of resulting in no championships, not even getting to a Conference Finals, [it] ends up nothing but a shell game .... a scam. It was a fantasy and it was a coping mechanism for losing."

Following the unpleasant split of Philadelphia and current Nets guard Ben Simmons, the 76ers tried to pair Embiid with All-Star shooting guard James Harden. Neither paring worked, and with a Harden exit seemingly imminent, the 76ers may be looking for a fresh start — one without Embiid or "The Process."

That's where Wembanyama comes in. 

In a recently drafted mock trade by ESPN, the Spurs and 76ers pair up and agree to find both Embiid and Wembanyama a new home. The 76ers would send Embiid to the Spurs, getting in return Wembanyama (via the 2023 No. 1 overall pick), point guard Devonte' Graham, small forward Doug McDermott and a 2024 first-rounder.

"Both teams would be undergoing pretty drastic pivots in this scenario," ESPN wrote. "For Philly, this would mark the official end of "The Process era," but instead of a full rebuild, this "Process 2.0" gets jump-started by another swing at a generational talent at the top of the draft."

The Process 2.0 proposal would certainly be enticing for Philadelphia. Wembanyama is a much different player than Embiid, but could be the fresh start that the 76ers need if they want to remain in the Eastern Conference conversation. ESPN's scenario would also allow the 76ers to build around Wembanyama without losing their other core pieces like Tyrese Maxey or Tobias Harris. 

For the Spurs, they would be gaining a bona fide All-Star, who has been in MVP conversations for the past few seasons and consistently proved to be the best player on the court in a majority of his matchups.  

"[The move] would instantly shift the Spurs into a competitive mindset," ESPN continued. "With Embiid in his prime, cap space and a draft pick haul from last summer's Dejounte Murray trade, they could build a team around Embiid to compete in the West."

That wouldn't happen without losing some of their veterans too, however. Devonte' Graham proved to be a solid scorer for San Antonio, and McDermott brought a leadership quality that was essential this season in the midst of the Spurs' player development.

"We all know what [McDermott] is," Popovich said. "He's a guy that can shoot the 3. He moves really well without the basketball. He knows how to play [and] he's a great teammate. Everybody took him very quickly ... he's been important."

Other players aside, the Spurs do have cap space and draft picks to make a move for other role players, or even another star. That would become increasingly likely with Embiid's arrival, too, but adding another star doesn't guarantee success. 

Even with a shooter the likes of Harden, the 76ers couldn't quite break out of the East. With a defender like Ben Simmons, the same story incurred. 

The Spurs would provide a different situation for the six-time All Star, as pairing him with a development-focused coach like Gregg Popovich could lead to a more productive season for Embiid, especially in the playoffs. 

Accepting a deal for solely Embiid would also be unlikely, as San Antonio would likely want to receive either a role player or additional draft compensation to give away the best prospect since LeBron James. 

But if Wembanyama ends up along a similar path to the greats that came before him, the Spurs could already have all that they need to find success once more, no trade necessary. 

It's just a matter of when that would happen. 

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