‘Joel Embiid should want James Harden to walk’: Kendrick Perkins thinks NBA MVP would be better off without The Beard… and suggests Kyrie Irving for 76ers
- Philadelphia 76ers face uncertain offseason after playoff exit
- Philadelphia fired Doc Rivers on Tuesday, while James Harden has a player option
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Kendrick Perkins thinks Joel Embiid would be better suited with James Harden on another NBA franchise next season.
The Philadelphia 76ers pulled out of the playoffs after losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Uncertainty reigns in Philadelphia with Harden a free agent and head coach Doc Rivers fired after the series loss.
“I think Joel Embiid should want Harden to walk. I think he deserves better than James Harden,’ Perkins told ESPN First take Friday.
‘If it’s up to Harden to make a decision [based] on who will be the coach, I think Joel Embiid should force his exit [of Philadelphia].’
ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins thinks league MVP would be better off without James Harden
Joel Embiid and James Harden could play for different NBA franchises next season
Perkins disputed reports that Embiid did not know the 76ers would fire the longtime NBA coach.
“It’s bad enough that they didn’t consult, or even ask, Joel Embiid about Doc Rivers, or whether or not he wanted to keep Doc Rivers.” It was insulting there.
“He’s your league MVP, he’s your franchise guy…you gotta at least ask him.” If I’m Joel Embiid, there’s no way I’m trusting (GM) Daryl Morey, with the love affair he has with James Harden, that he’s going to do well by Joel Embiid.
“The Beard” posted a cryptic message to his Instagram Story after ESPN reported that the 33-year-old guard likely wouldn’t be back with the Sixers if Rivers was still the team’s head coach. Rivers was fired after Philly lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to Boston
Doc Rivers was fired by the Philadelphia 76ers after the 76ers gave up a 3-2 lead to BOS
Perkins then floated the idea of teaming up with Embiid and Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving. A suggestion that was quickly dismissed by a colleague and insider, Brian Windhorst.
“It doesn’t work that way,” he said. That’s why it’s a problem. If Harden walks, they suddenly don’t have $30 million in cap space.
The Beard took to Instagram after ESPN announced he likely wouldn’t be back with the Sixers if Rivers was still the team’s head coach.
“Experts really aren’t experts,” shared the 2012 Sixth Man of the Year.
