The Philadelphia 76ers have done little to convince other teams (or their fans) that they're a force to be reckoned with, excelling at home, but struggling greatly at home. Talks of a Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid trade have started to emerge in light of the dysfunction, though according to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, it's far more likely that head coach Brett Brown gets the boot rather than either of the two stars.

“Sources I have spoken to around the league painted this picture (and [ESPN's Brian] Windhorst mentions it): It’s too hard to get two elite players, trading one (and certainly not getting full value back) is the absolute last resort,” wrote Helin. “The more likely pattern is Brett Brown gets fired after the season and another coach is brought in. However, if in a year or two that coach cannot get Embiid and Simmons to blend at a championship level, then the Sixers will start to explore trades. (Both players are under contract for three seasons after this one, there is no pressure to trade or lose them on the Sixers.)”

Helin is onto something here, and the speculation of Simmons and Embiid trades being explored isn't unfounded either. Both Howard Beck of Bleacher Report and Windhorst have made this known through podcast airwaves.

“There are plenty of people around the league who believe this is it, these are the final days of Embiid and Simmons together,” said Beck in his podcast The Full 48.

Windy, who is often king of the backdoor rumor mills, has heard that through the tap waters of front office hearsay as he mentioned in The Hoop Collective podcast.

“One of the conversations people are starting to have in the league is ‘will they move Embiid? What’s the price? Where would he go?’ I’m not going to get into that, but my point is people are talking about that.”

The Sixers have done their utmost to load up this team with stars, giving up on them after less than a year seems more like a death note for Elton Brand's time as general manager.

It's much more likely that the Sixers try again with a new coach that can implement a new philosophy before they explore trading two unique talents that can easily translate into wins for the franchise.