NBA rumors: Knicks are solely focused on Joel Embiid

As the NBA kicks off, it seems that the Sixers may have to fend off the New York Knicks from getting Joel Embiid to request a trade. According to Keith Pompey, the Knicks are willing to offer R.J. Barrett, Evan Fournier, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson in a trade for the MVP. While Joel Embiid hasn't requested a trade yet, the Sixers are in a very messy situation with James Harden.

With the Harden situation in flames, rumors have started to fly that the Sixers franchise star might leave the team in the coming years. While it will take an Embiid trade request for the Sixers to trade the player, the Knicks are certainly circling the Sixers lot in case a trade request comes out. The Knicks are likely broadcasting their interest with the hope of getting Embiid's attention.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo locked up by the Bucks for the long-term future, the Knicks may be looking to pounce quickly for the next star that becomes available. Of course, the Knicks do not have to be too aggressive due to the fact that one NBA star basically requests a trade once every six months but New York has targeted Embiid for some time and is most definitely better than the everyday all-star that requests a trade.

NBA rumors: Donovan Mitchell wants to make his way out

According to Bill Simmons, it's the league's "worst-kept secret" that Donovan Mitchell still wants to play for the Knicks. Cleveland traded a whole wealth of assets for the superstar two offseason ago. The team only made the first round of the playoffs last season, losing to the Knicks. They lost due to a variety of reasons but Donovan Mitchell was not one of the reasons that the team wasn't successful.

The All-Star has only two more years left on his deal (a player option the following year but that will most likely be declined even if stays with the team). When he made his trade request two off-season ago, it seemed like the star really wanted to go to the New York Knicks. The Jazz could never end up agreeing to a deal with the Knicks which left them to make a deal with another team instead.

To be quite honest in an East with a lot of good teams, it's hard to see a world where the Cavs are able to make the second round of the playoffs this season. While the Cavs have enough talent to compete with the Knicks and Sixers, they will have a rough road to beating either of these teams in the playoffs. As the season goes on, this will be a storyline to monitor.

NBA rumors: Kevin Durant wants his jersey retired

Before facing off against his old team, it seems like Kevin Durant wants his jersey retired by the Warriors. In an interview with Marc J. Spears, Durant said, "Look at the resume. That would warrant me to get a jersey retirement, right?"

It seems that Joe Lacob will honor that request and said, "As long as I am co-chairman of this team, no other player will ever wear No. 35 for the Warriors again." To be quite honest, Kevin Durant deserves his jersey retired by the Warriors. Say what you want about his move to the Warriors, the All-NBA player played several All-NBA seasons with the Warriors.

For a franchise that doesn't have a lot of success outside of this current time period, Durant's time with the Warriors is more than enough to have his jersey retired.