May 10, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts against the New York Knicks in the third quarter during game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia 76ers made an interesting choice with their starting lineup on Sunday night, starting LeBron James at center instead of Adem Bona. James did not have his best performance, and it was difficult for him to adjust to a position he has rarely played throughout his career.
Still, James was willing to do whatever he could to help the team. However, it was clear that he struggled against Detroit's frontcourt.
“Playing center, it was a tough start for James. There are moments when one realizes that for as great as James is, he is still 41 and he doesn’t jump as high or move as fast as he once did. The Pistons were dominant on the glass led by Collins and former Sixers big man Paul Reed as James was not able to keep them off the boards,” Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin wrote.
Philadelphia was outmatched on the glass, and that was evident from the start. After the game, James recalled one of Taurean Prince’s memorable sayings.
“In the great words of Taurean Prince … the ball goes up into the air, and then you go grab the ball,” James said.
The underlying issue is Embiid's availability, as his injury history makes it difficult to count on him playing every game. This could become a recurring problem throughout the season. CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn believes the 76ers could consider a trade involving Embiid and Myles Turner if Embiid continues to struggle to stay healthy.
“He's an overpaid veteran on a rebuilding team, yet we keep coming back to that supply-demand imbalance at center. That goes double for shooting centers, as the league's renewed focus on offensive rebounding has really raised the bar on which bigs can actually get away with spacing the floor. Turner certainly can, and the hope is that he can bounce back to his Indiana form on a better team. He's something of a "wait and see" trade candidate. If Embiid gets hurt again and the Sixers are willing to attach draft capital to move him, something involving Turner makes sense,” Quinn said.
Such a move could give Philadelphia a capable alternative at center. Turner is a strong rim protector who can also stretch the floor with his three-point shooting. Embiid offers a more extensive offensive skill set, but Turner could provide athleticism and a different option in the frontcourt.
Turner is currently playing on a $108 million deal with Milwaukee. Moving on from Embiid, one of Philadelphia's longest-tenured players, would be a significant decision. However, if his availability remains a concern, the 76ers could explore whether a different center would provide more consistent production and availability.
