Lakers urged to pursue trade for Joel Embiid with laughably low offer, per NBA analyst
Context:
The future of Joel Embiid with the Philadelphia 76ers is uncertain following his knee injury and potential inability to regain his MVP form. NBA analyst Bill Simmons proposed a trade involving Embiid to the Los Angeles Lakers, suggesting that the Sixers could benefit from moving his expensive contract. The proposed trade would involve the Lakers sending two first-round picks and expiring contracts, excluding key players like Austin Reaves, LeBron James, or Luka Doncic. This deal is seen as a potential 'get out of jail free card' for the Sixers, allowing them to offload Embiid without finding many other offers. However, the likelihood of such a trade depends on the Sixers' desperation to remove Embiid from their payroll, which currently seems premature but not improbable in the future.
Dive Deeper:
Joel Embiid's future with the Philadelphia 76ers is under scrutiny due to his knee injury and the uncertainty surrounding his ability to perform at an MVP level again. This has prompted discussions about trading him while he still holds value.
Bill Simmons suggested a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers that would help the Sixers shed Embiid's expensive, long-term contract. The Lakers would acquire Embiid in exchange for two first-round picks and expiring contracts.
Simmons describes the trade as a 'get out of jail free card' for the 76ers, allowing them to move on from Embiid and his contract without retaining him on their roster amidst concerns about his future contributions.
The Lakers' side of the trade would involve Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith (should he opt in), Maxi Kleber, and Gabe Vincent, effectively making it a salary dump for the Sixers while gaining draft assets.
Key players like Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic are not included in the trade offer, underscoring the Lakers' intention to retain their core talent while acquiring Embiid.
While currently unlikely, a trade of this nature could become a reality if the Sixers find themselves unable to offload Embiid elsewhere or if his performance and injury concerns persist.
Despite the speculative nature of this proposal, the trade highlights the strategic considerations teams must address when managing player contracts and future roster construction.
There’s plenty of uncertainty surrounding Joel Embiid’s future with the Philadelphia 76ers. After his season ended prematurely due to a knee issue, there’s no telling if the 2023 NBA MVP will ever regain his form.
The Sixers could roll that dice believing he will, but there’s a case to be made that Philadelphia is better off trading him while they still can. Bill Simmons floated a trade between the Sixers and the Los Angeles Lakers that he believes could get the Sixers out from under Embiid’s lengthy and expensive contract. He proposed the following swap between the two teams.
Lakers get: Embiid
Sixers get: Two first-round picks, expiring contracts
Simmons explained why the Sixers would do it, saying, "Talk about a get out of jail free card.. We'll give you all of our expirings and a first, and we’ll get you out of the Joel Embiid business. Here’s your Embiid get out of jail free card right now. You don’t have to deal with him anymore.”
Simmons then explained why the Lakers would agree to the deal.
“That’s my favorite Lakers move, all their expirings and two first-round picks, and they get Embiid. Reaves isn’t in it.”
Simmons added that Austin Reaves wouldn’t be included in the deal. He doesn’t say it outright, but he insinuated that he also wouldn’t include LeBron James or Luka Doncic in this trade.
For the Lakers to make this work as Simmons pitched it, they would trade Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith (if he opts in), Maxi Kleber, and Gabe Vincent. In essence, this is a salary dump where the Sixers would be given some draft assets for their trouble.
This may sound ridiculous, but excluding what the future holds for Embiid, the Lakers got their hands on Doncic when no one saw it coming and no one believed it when it was first announced. A trade like this would only happen if the Sixers desperately want to get Embiid off their payroll and can’t find any takers, or no one is willing to give them what they want.
Odds are, the Sixers aren’t there yet, but it may not be too long until they reach that point.
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