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• By Michael Kaskey-Blomain

• Updated May 11, 2026 at 1:00pm

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It didn’t take long after the Philadelphia 76ers were swept in the second round of the NBA playoffs by the New York Knicks for the calls for the team to trade star center Joel Embiid to start.

Less than 24 hours after the Sixers were eliminated, ESPN NBA analyst Kedrick Perkins said on live air that Philadelphia should try to move on from the former league MVP over the offseason.

Kendrick Perkins Says Philadelphia 76ers Should Look to Trade Joel Embiid Over the Offseason

GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – FEBRUARY 18: (L-R) Richard Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins attend the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend at Wolstein Center on February 18, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

During an appearance on First Take, Perkins argued that it would be in the best interest of both the Sixers and Embiid for the two sides to go in different directions at this point in time.

“As far as Joel Embiid, this relationship has run it’s course. It’s time for both parties to separate. I think it would be in the best interest for the organization, and  it would also be in the best interest for Joel Embiid. I believe Joel Embiid needs a change of scenery. I believe Joel Embiid needs a breath of fresh air, to go to another place and play to be under another organization, to be under different leadership,” Perkins said.

“At this point in time, listening to his postgame interview, I think he believes that the time has passed as far as him being one of those guys, a franchise guy, to help this organization get to where they’re trying to go and ultimately win a championship.”

This story will be updated.