The Philadelphia 76ers have officially shut down Joel Embiid for the remainder of the season due to persistent issues with his left knee. Embiid, who has played only 19 games this season, last faced the Dallas Mavericks a few weeks ago, posting an impressive 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a victory for Philadelphia. However, with the 76ers on a nine-game losing streak and holding a 20-38 record, the decision to sideline him aligns with their effort to retain their first-round draft pick.
So, how does this impact the Mavericks? It all ties back to a trade between the two teams before the deadline.
Prior to the trade deadline, Dallas sent Quentin Grimes and a 2025 second-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for Caleb Martin. After conducting a physical on Martin and discovering his injury was more severe than the 76ers initially indicated, the Mavericks renegotiated the deal to include a 2030 second-round pick from Philadelphia. However, Dallas failed to reclaim its 2025 second-round pick, which could prove costly.
Philadelphia’s first-round pick is set to go to the Oklahoma City Thunder unless it lands within the top six of the draft lottery. With 24 games left, the 76ers currently hold the sixth-best lottery odds and are likely to do everything possible to remain in that range. As a result, the second-round pick Dallas gave up is expected to land between 34-36 in what is considered a deep draft class.
In essence, the Mavericks sacrificed a valuable draft asset and a player averaging 13.4 points per game for an injured Martin, who has yet to play. Adding to the frustration, Martin—an older player—is on par with Grimes in terms of talent. This trade, initially overshadowed by the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis saga, has only looked worse as time has passed.
