The Philadelphia 76ers are linked to a blockbuster trade proposal involving their $187 million star. Image via: 76ers | HawksJoel Embiid averaged 26.9 points a game last season when healthy enough to play, which was only 38 times. That single stat sums up why Philadelphia's front office is reportedly shopping the 2023 MVP even as a new three-year max extension looms. A proposed deal from FanSided's Eamon Cassels would send Embiid to the Atlanta Hawks, but insiders say Dallas and Golden State have also entered the picture as the Sixers weigh how to escape one of the league's most expensive and unpredictable contracts.The math is the problem. Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecomb together represent a financial commitment the front office reportedly views as unsustainable, and Embiid's next contract phase pushes that tension to a breaking point.CategoryDetailsPlayerJoel EmbiidCurrent TeamPhiladelphia 76ersRumored TeamsAtlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State WarriorsContract StatusThree-year, $187 million extension begins in 2026–27Salary Cap Hit$52.9 million (2026–27), $62.6 million (2027–28), $67.2 million player option (2028–29)Trade LikelihoodSpeculative, no formal offer confirmedLatest Insider UpdateFront-office conversations reportedly ongoing, per local radioPotential Return (Hawks proposal)Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Corey KispertWhich teams are interested in Joel Embiid?Joel Embiid. Image via: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Three franchises have emerged in trade chatter, each with a different motive. As per the ongoing rumors-Atlanta Hawks: Would receive Embiid and a 2029 Clippers first-round pick; Philadelphia would get Daniels, Risacher, and KispertDallas Mavericks: Discussed as a three-team framework involving Milwaukee, with Embiid landing in Dallas and Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and Klay Thompson routed to PhiladelphiaGolden State Warriors: Floated as a fallback option if the Warriors miss out on LeBron James in free agencyThe Atlanta Hawks have emerged as the most concrete suitor in Joel Embiid trade talks, with FanSided proposing a deal that sends Embiid and a 2029 Los Angeles Clippers first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, and Corey Kispert. The Hawks finished sixth in the East last season and are still searching for a true superstar after trading Trae Young, making a healthy Embiid an appealing gamble despite his injury history. Dallas and Golden State have also surfaced in broader speculation, but the Hawks proposal remains the only trade package with specific names attached.Atlanta's angle centers on upgrading star power after moving on from Trae Young, while Dallas GM Masai Ujiri's history with Embiid makes that pairing a recurring rumor. The scenario is certainly wild, if both teams give their nod, Embidd will be in a different jersey in a major roster revamp.What are insiders saying about the trade rumor?97.5 The Fanatic co-host Sean Brace said front-office conversations about moving Embiid are "absolutely happening." The Ringer's Bill Simmons pointed to Ujiri's long relationship with Embiid as the reason Dallas keeps surfacing, while NBA insider Chris Haynes added that Ujiri "won't make a change just to make a change," but wouldn't rule out a move this summer.Contract details and salary cap implicationsEmbiid's new deal runs three years at $187 million, structured at $52.9 million, $62.6 million, and a $67.2 million player option in the final year. That structure makes him one of the most expensive players in the league relative to games played, since he appeared in just 38 contests last season.How the trade could impact both teamsFor Philadelphia, moving Embiid would shed long-term risk but likely return only role players unless a third team adds draft capital. For any acquiring team, the upside is real: a healthy Embiid remains one of basketball's most dominant scorers. The downside, injury history and one of the league's largest active contracts, is exactly why no deal has materialized yet. Philadelphia's front office faces a decision point before training camp opens, and how they value risk against Embiid's ceiling will determine whether any of these rumors become reality.