The Los Angeles Lakers are in the market for a center after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick played without a traditional center in Game 5, a contest Minnesota won to eliminate Los Angeles from the postseason.
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In Game 5, the Lakers were outrebounded 54-37, including 18-8 on the offensive glass. Los Angeles president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka told reporters during his end-of-the-season press conference that he will attempt to acquire a center this summer and Bill Simmons of The Ringer has a trade idea for the purple and gold.
Simmons proposed that the Lakers acquire Joel Embiid from the Philadelphia 76ers, who missed the playoffs this year. Embiid only appeared in 19 games. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April.
Lakers fans know the team needs a center. However, many of them are out on adding Embiid, who has never played more than 68 games in a season.
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Even though the Lakers would have a “Big 3” on paper in Embiid, Luka Doncic and LeBron James, many Los Angeles fans hate Simmons’ trade idea.
Embiid has a massive contract. Philadelphia signed Embiid to a three-year, $192 million extension in September 2024. The one-time MVP is owed $248.1 million over the next four seasons.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel EmbiidKyle Ross-Imagn Images
“A non-lob threat who’s never healthy? I respect Embiid but NAH!! I’m all the way good on this lol,” one fan said.
“No thank you,” another fan wrote.
“Embiid has missed more games than he’s played. Get him and his knees far away from the Lakers,” a third fan wrote.
“Joel Embiid???? No thank you,” a fourth fan wrote.
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Embiid averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists this season while shooting 44.4% from the field, 29.9% from beyond the arc and 88.2% from the free-throw line.
A Kansas product, Embiid has career averages of 27.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He’s made seven All-Star teams, five All-NBA teams and three All-Defensive teams.
If Embiid isn’t playing in February 2026, the Sixers (or any team he’s on) could petition for a medical NBA retirement.
Related: Luka Doncic’s Future With Lakers Gets Massive Update