{"id":59426,"date":"2025-05-07T08:20:41","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T08:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=59426"},"modified":"2025-05-07T08:20:41","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T08:20:41","slug":"breaking-lakers-land-ex-mvp-center-as-lukas-lob-partner-in-wild-trade-pitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=59426","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Lakers Land Ex-MVP Center as Luka\u2019s Lob Partner in Wild Trade Pitch"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Luka<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers will prioritize looking for a center this offseason following their disappointing first-round exit in the NBA Playoffs, where their lack of size in the middle was exposed.<\/p>\n

Bill Simmons of The Ringer proposed a wild trade idea where the Lakers would gamble on Philadelphia 76ers franchise star Joel Embiid and his 31-year-old creaking knees to run with Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and LeBron James without giving up Austin Reaves.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll give you all of our expirings and a first, and we\u2019ll get you out of the Joel Embiid business,\u201d Simmons said on his podcast, \u201cBill Simmons,\u201d on Monday. \u201cHere\u2019s your get-out-of-jail free card right now. You don\u2019t have to deal with him anymore.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The Lakers can theoretically offer\u00a0Maxi Kleber,\u00a0Dorian Finney-Smith,\u00a0Gabe Vincent\u00a0and\u00a0Rui Hachimura\u00a0and their 2031 first-round pick. They also have five pick swaps to use as a sweetener.<\/p>\n

But Simmon\u2019s hypothetical trade will leave the Lakers $5.2 million below the first apron and $17.1 million under the second apron, assuming James picks up his player option, with at least five roster spots to fill to get league minimum of 14.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Joel Embiid Available?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\"Joel<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Getty<\/span>Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers clutches his knee during the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In the same podcast, Simmons\u2019 guest Ryen Rusillo said Embiid could be had before his season-ending surgery.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard Embiid was available at the trade deadline,\u201d Rusillo told Simmons.<\/p>\n

Simmons was in disbelief.<\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon, we\u2019re getting on Hoopshype tomorrow,\u201d Simmons told Rusillo.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt may have been a \u2018would you?\u2019 but I think this happens all the time. So it shouldn\u2019t be something that\u2019s big of a deal,\u201d Rusillo replied.<\/p>\n

Embiid was only limited to 19 games this season. In April, Embiid underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after he was shut down.<\/p>\n

Despite his nagging knee issues, Embiid still averaged 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists this season. Embiid is just two years removed from his MVP season. But since then, he had only played 58 out of the possible 164 games over the past two seasons.<\/p>\n

Rob Pelinka on What He\u2019s Looking For a Center<\/h2>\n

Lakers president Rob Pelinka made it clear that the center position will be addressed this offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis offseason, one of our primary goals is gonna be to add size in our frontcourt at the center position, and that\u2019s just gonna be a part of the equation,\u201d\u00a0Pelinka told reporters during his end-of-season press conference alongside Lakers coach JJ Redick.<\/p>\n

So, what exactly is Pelinka looking for in the next Lakers starting center after the team rescinded the\u00a0Mark Williams\u00a0trade at the deadline?<\/p>\n

\u201cIn terms of center traits, it would be great to have a center that was a vertical threat, a lob threat, and someone who can protect the interior defensively. I think those would be keys,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut there are multiple types of centers that could be effective in the league. There are also spread centers that can protect the rim. We\u2019ll look at those as well. So I wouldn\u2019t want to limit the archetype, but we know we need a big man.<\/em><\/p>\n

Embiid should be the cream of the crop. However, his troublesome knees have been a lingering issue.<\/p>\n

Potential Center Options<\/h2>\n

If Embiid isn\u2019t truly available or they feel not worth the risk, the Lakers will have plenty of options available in the free agent market.<\/p>\n

Atlanta\u2019s\u00a0Clint Capela, Minnesota\u2019s\u00a0Naz Reid\u00a0(player option), Milwaukee\u2019s\u00a0Brook Lopez, Indiana\u2019s\u00a0Myles Turner\u00a0and champion centers\u00a0Al Horford\u00a0of Boston and Golden State\u2019s\u00a0Kevon Looney are all free agents this summer.<\/p>\n

But if James opts into his\u00a0$52.7 million player option\u00a0for next season, the Lakers will only have the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception unless they offload some of their guaranteed contracts to create cap room.<\/p>\n

Turner is the obvious top choice, but the Lakers do not have the cap room unless James declines his player option and signs elsewhere, which is unlikely to happen.<\/p>\n

A sign-and-trade with Turner is possible, but the Lakers need to give up rotation players to match salaries, and besides, they only have their 2031 first-round selection and two pick swaps to potentially offer Indiana.<\/p>\n

Cheaper options in the trade market include Portland\u2019s\u00a0Robert Williams III\u00a0or Brooklyn\u2019s\u00a0Nic Claxton.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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