2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[vfromlmf]

My issue with this is the other side of the deal...Embiid and KP.  That seems to me to be more problematic than Luka and Simmons.

What issues do you see with Embiid and KP? 

Porzingis always played next to a beefy center in New York and both Embiid and KP can stretch the floor for the other. Opponents can't go small and switch everything or Embiid will dominate inside. That means there will always be an opposing big on the floor. The offensive fit seems fine. Maybe ideal if the Sixers also get a ddecent point guard (Brunson?)

On defense Embiid controls the paint and KP is your weakside shotblocker ... KP tags when teams put Embiid in pick & roll. When teams target KP you have Embiid patrolling inside. This is just an upgraded version of Dallas' better defensive units: KP + Powell or WCS. 

I guess you can argue KP can't guard modern power forwards ... but Embiid + a healthy KP would present some real matchup challenges themselves.

KP himself has always been a conundrum ... He can be a matchup problem for opponents but also his own team. What type of frontcourt player fits best next to KP?  

If you're the type of guy who says "big beefy center" and you work up trade proposals for guys like Steven Adams then clearly Embiid is the definition of best fit. 

Doesn't Embiid give you everything John Collins does, only at an MVP level? Embiid is an equal 3pt shooter and far better scorer, rebounder, facilitator & defender than Collins.  

But if you're the type of guy who believes KP is only a true unicorn at center, and you want to play a big wing like Siakam or Jeremy Grant at power forward (or in Dallas' case, DFS) next to him then a deal to the Sixers clearly makes no sense. I'm just not sure KP can anchor a defense. Of course, if he CAN why the hell would you want to trade him?!