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Getty Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers controls the ball against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Miami Heat completely fell apart during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, May 25, losing 93-80. The Heat couldn’t get it going on offense, and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid couldn’t help but comment on the tough loss.
The Heat eliminated the Sixers from the playoffs earlier this month, but Embiid is still rooting for his former teammate, six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler. Near the end of the fourth quarter, Embiid sent out a tweet in which he suggested he might be the missing ingredient Miami needs to win.
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“Miami needs another star,” Embiid tweeted, which quickly went viral.
Miami needs another star
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) May 26, 2022
“Please don’t do this king,” Fox 59 reporter Alexa Ross tweeted to Embiid, while another commented, “There’s also a trade if Embiid wants it.”
“Are you offering?” responded a Heat fan.
Now, Embiid signed a four-year supermax deal with the Sixers last summer, a four-year, $196 million deal that will keep him in Philadelphia through the 2026-27 season. That is, of course, unless he has traded, or requests a trade himself.
Embiid, who played with a right orbital fracture and torn thumb ligament during the playoffs, already exudes Heat culture. If he is looking to join Miami, team president Pat Riley may seize the opportunity to make that blockbuster trade a reality.
The Kansas alum’s tweet carried even more weight as the 7-foot center has already dismissed the idea that he could be traded after the end of Philadelphia’s playoff run, and has done so numerous times.
“They can trade me at any time,” Embiid said. “Everything has a price. You never know what can happen, I’m sure there are some Philly fans who want that to happen.”
“Like I said, I’m not the general manager,” Embiid continued. “They can change me at any time. I don’t know. I came home two days ago and got the best award I could get, it was Most Valuable Parent.”
Embiid made it clear that he misses playing with Butler during the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Embiid had nothing but respect and love for Butler after the Heat finished the Sixers’ postseason run in six games.
“I am so proud of him; he is playing at an unreal level right now; he’s something else,” Embiid told the reports. “I’m proud of him for being at this level and for what he’s been able to do,” Embiid told reporters on May 12.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I don’t want him to be my teammate. I still don’t know how we let him go, but I wish I could go into battle with him, but it is what it is.”
Butler said: ‘I still wish I was on’ Embiid’s team after eliminating the Sixers
Getty Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks with Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat.
After the Heat/Celtics series came to a close, the 32-year-old wing spoke just as highly about the MVP candidate.
“I’m lovin ‘it. I’m proud of him, Butler said. “Yes, yes, yes, I still want to be on his team. I definitely love the Miami Heat though, man. I’m glad I’m here, but I have a lot of respect and love for Joel Embiid,” Butler said after that Game 6 matchup.
My reading of Jimmy Butler’s postgame interview was that he was clearly planting the seeds for Joel Embiid to force a trade to Miami. Maybe not now, but if the Sixers don’t make significant improvements next year…
— Tom Kelly (@TommyKelly44) May 13, 2022
Butler’s performance Wednesday night contrasted with what he did against Embiid in Game 6, where he had 32 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal.
Against the Celtics in Game 5, Butler had just 13 points, with six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. However, no one on the Heat seemed to be able to make baskets at FTX Arena. Miami shot 31.9% from the field, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
The Heat were even worse from beyond the arc, shooting 7-of-45 (15.6%) from 3-point range, which is insane considering Miami led the league in 3-point scoring during the regular season. Now, they are one game away from their season coming to an end.
Game 6 Return to Boston
Following the Game 5 loss, the Heat now travel to Boston in a game they must win to be left alone in the postseason. Here is the remaining schedule for the Heat/Celtics Eastern Conference Finals:
Game 6: Friday, May 27, TD Garden, 8:30 p.m., ESPN Game 7: (if necessary) Sunday, May 29: FTX Arena, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
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