Lakers Asked If Joel Embiid Was Available When 76ers Called About LeBron James Trade

According to Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers asked if Joel Embiid was available when the Philadelphia 76ers called them about a LeBron James trade. 

Sixers president Daryl Morey called Lakers exec Rob Pelinka to probe on a LeBron trade and was immediately told that The King wasn’t available. Pelinka responded by asking Morey if Embiid was available.

LeBron and Embiid don’t have no-trade clauses in their contracts, but neither superstar will get traded unless they request a trade. 

Embiid signed a four-year, $213 million extension with the Sixers in August 2021. He’s making $47.6 million this season. The reigning MVP is currently out after undergoing surgery on his left knee.

Meanwhile, LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option worth $51.4 million. The Golden State Warriors tried to trade for the NBA legend as well, per ESPN. 

Embiid is averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.8 blocks this season while shooting 53.3% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc and 88.3% from the free-throw line. He won’t win his second straight MVP since he will fall short of the NBA’s 65-game minimum to earn postseason awards.

LeBron, meanwhile, is averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting 52.0% overall, 39.5% from 3 and 74.1% from the foul line. The Akron Hammer is still one of the top players in the NBA despite being the oldest player in the association. 

The Sixers are in fifth place in the East, while the Lakers are in ninth place in the West. Philadelphia blew out Los Angeles on November 27 by a final score of 138-94. 

The Lakers host the Sixers on March 22 at Crypto.com Arena.