76ers: One Joel Embiid trade for every team ranked least to most likely
By Jack Simone
76ers: One Joel Embiid trade for every team ranked least to most likely: 21. Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis is one of the best players that will be found on this list in terms of highlighting a trade package for Joel Embiid. But the only problem is he’s the only thing the Los Angeles Lakers will have to offer the Philadelphia 76ers.
Almost everyone on the Lakers will be a free agent this summer, meaning the Lakers won’t have anything to trade. And unless they wanted to ship out LeBron James and turn the NBA world on its head, this would be their best offer.
Even this wouldn’t make sense for the Lakers. Is Embiid a better player than Davis? Yes. But Davis has put together an impressive postseason run, and trading him now may not sit well with James.
Rob Pelinka built a great roster at this year’s trade deadline, and the Lakers now find themselves in the Western Conference finals. It seems highly likely that they run it back next season.
Plus, why would the 76ers want Davis? If they trade Embiid, they’d probably rather receive young assets and draft picks, which the Lakers cannot offer them.
The only reason this trade isn’t further down the list of least likely is because of how good Davis is. This trade would never happen, and neither side would be interested.