3 reasons why the LA Lakers should trade for Myles Turner
Myles Turner recently admitted he would consider leaving the Indiana Pacers and named the LA Lakers as one of his preferred trade destinations.
The seven-year veteran spoke with Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and explained what he could bring to the team and why the 17-time NBA champions should pursue a trade for him.
"We all know picks are so valuable in this league. Someone like myself, I’m heading into the last year of my deal and you want to make sure you’re getting a return for your assets," Myles Turner told Wojnarowski via SB Nation.
"If I’m the Lakers, I take a very hard look at this with the position that you’re in. I know what I can provide for a team — my leadership, my shot blocking, my 3-point ability and just my ability to make plays on the floor. As far as pulling the trigger, I get paid to shoot, not make these calls. So, I couldn’t answer that."
Turner is in the final year of his current deal. It would make sense for the Pacers to move him before February's trade deadline. He has been with the team since the start of his career in 2015.
Here are three reasons why the Lakers should pursue a trade for Myles Turner:
#1 LA Lakers will need reinforcements if they seek to contend for the championship
The LA Lakers are off to a rough start in the regular season and will quickly need to build a winning streak and find consistency if they are to make the playoffs.
With a 1-5 record after the first six games, there are concerns about the build-up of the roster and whether it can lead the team to a deep playoff run.
From the role of Russell Westbrook to the shooting woes and the players that arrived during the offseason, the management and coaching staff have a lot of issues to address on and off the court.
Hence, it wouldn't come as a surprise if changes are made. This could be through a Russell Westbrook trade or reinforcements in the free agency market.
Bringing Myles Turner in would enable the Lakers to have a versatile big man that can cover the center position and add another dimension to the team's playing style.
With the return of Thomas Bryant (finger surgery) and the addition of Turner, the Lakers would significantly bolster their frontline. It would also allow Anthony Davis to play at the 4 instead of the 5. Davis has stated multiple times that he prefers to play as a power forward rather than a center.
#2 Myles Turner wants to play for the Lakers
If the LA Lakers manage to strike a deal with the Pacers, Myles Turner would be only too happy. Turner would be highly motivated to make a difference for the team on both ends of the floor.
Turner has explicitly stated that he would find a move to the Lakers appealing.
“Just playing in the bigger market, I just feel like here in the Midwest we don’t get the love that I think we deserve," he said. "It doesn’t get taken on the national level. You are under the microscope out there at the West, when you are doing bad you going to hear about it. When you are doing great you are going to get a lot of love.
"I think that another aspect that is playing with greatness and playing under LeBron, I feel like he demands certain level of excellency especially at this point of his career. It’s just one of those things, when you are out there, you gotta perform. People are going expect you to go out there and hold on to that legacy that Lakers have built over the years.”
Having players with such desire and motivation would be fantastic for head coach Darvin Ham, who wants to bring the franchise back to the NBA playoffs.
#3 It's time for the LA Lakers to use their 2 first-round picks
There was a lot of discussion during the offseason about the LA Lakers' unwillingness to include their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks in any trade deals.
If they had done so, they would likely have been in a position to trade Westbrook and build their roster in a different and more efficient way.
That said, maybe this is the right time for the Lakers to give away these two picks and bring in a player that would bolster their frontline.
With their rough start putting extra pressure on the team early on, the front office has already started examining alternative plans to bolster the roster.
Using their draft picks would help the Lakers trade for their preferred players as they aim to avoid a second straight absence from the postseason.
For the time being, the LA Lakers are focusing on finding the ideal role for Russell Westbrook and building a winning streak to climb higher in the standings.
However, as Turner trade rumors have resurfaced, the franchise is expected to look at the possibility of trading for the veteran big man.