Joel Embiid’s recent comments have the sports world playing “Guess Who?”

After the 2023 league MVP made headlines by saying he wants to win a championship, either with Philadelphia or “anywhere else,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Dave McMenamin spoke about Embiid’s future on another team.

McMenamin’s choice for the big man’s new home is just an Amtrak train ride away.

“I mean line up the Acela Express and send him up to New York,” McMenamin said on an episode of Lowe’s The Lowe Post podcast.

“That’s been what has been the murmurs. [Lowe] said New York, we’ve all heard New York, we know the connection between Leon Rose and Joel Embiid.

“We also know, quite frankly, that Daryl Morey came into a situation that was largely set up before him and he will continue to craft that team in the fashion that he wants it to look like.

“And Joel Embiid, now that he has the stamp on his resume of being the reigning MVP, he should be applying pressure to make the urgent window exist in this moment for Philadelphia.”

The 29-year-old center has been one of the best players in the league for the last five-plus seasons, and now that he’s in the middle of his prime, the clock is ticking for the 76ers to put a championship contender around him.

But with Philadelphia not making it past the Eastern Conference semifinals in Embiid’s six postseason appearances, some believe the Knicks could be the favourite if he leaves the franchise.

Embiid has been linked to New York for months in large part due to Rose, the Knicks president — who was formerly Embiid’s agent.

The Knicks have been steadily building a winning culture under Rose.

This past season, the team made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals behind guard Jalen Brunson and forward Julius Randle, and adding Embiid to that mix could make New York a true contender.

With the Knicks owning 11 first-round picks between 2024-2030, they would likely have the assets to be a player for Embiid should he demand out of Philadelphia.

A six-time All-Star, Embiid averaged a league-best 33.1 points last season to go along with 10.2 rebounds per night.

This article first appeared on The New York Postand was reproduced with permission.

HARDEN ‘STILL INTENDS’ TO JOIN CLIPPERS AFTER 76ERS PRESIDENT’S ADMISSION

Meanwhile, all signs still point to 76ers teammate James Harden wanting to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers and general manager Daryl Morey is “attempting to honour” his request.

Philadelphia won’t trade Harden though unless the team gets enough value in return, with Morey reiterating that point in an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic on Wednesday.

“If we don’t get either a very good player or something we can turn into a very good player, then we’re just not going to do it,” Morey said.

“If James were to turn his mind around, we would all be thrilled. You’ve heard [Joel Embiid’s] comments about that. But at this moment, he prefers to be traded, and we are attempting to honour that.”

Morey also said the team knows it needs to “make sure” Embiid has a “top running mate” after the 76ers superstar declared he wants to win a title, even if its not in Philadelphia.

It doesn’t look like that running mate will be Harden, with a report from Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer claiming he “still intends” to play for the Clippers next season “no matter the Sixers’ wishes”.

“Since the beginning of this subplot, Harden and his representation opted in to pinpoint Los Angeles as his next destination and have maintained a confidence he will ultimately join the Clippers,” Fischer wrote.

“There has been no substantial trade conversation for Philadelphia regarding Harden and any other team, sources said, as rival front offices have been briefed on Harden’s unwavering focus on the Clippers and the Clippers alone. The 76ers have held talks with other teams and have established their high asking price for the league’s assist leader.”

Harden previously forced his way out of Houston after what then-coach Stephen Silas described as a “holdout” which eventually resulted in the star guard landing at Brooklyn.

Fischer reported Harden is “expected at this point to report to training camp” but that shouldn’t be a source of comfort for Philadelphia fans.

“You can cause far more headaches for the organisation you’re trying to leave by showing up, as opposed to staying home,” Fischer continued.

“With both the Rockets and Nets, Harden made various trips away from the team for various nightlife activities. He made Brooklyn feel it had no other option but to trade him to the Sixers before the 2022 trade deadline, or risk losing him for nothing.

“With Philadelphia, Harden’s side is very much of the belief joining the Clippers is not a matter of if, but when.”

Harden opted into his $35.6 million deal for the 2023-24 season in June ahead of free agency, clearing the way for a trade out of Philadelphia.