The Los Angeles Lakers didnāt get off to the start of the year they wished for. The NBA season has been riddled by injuries and COVID-19 but even before that, LeBron Jamesāteam didnāt seem to be on the same page.
One of the biggest issues and concerns for the purple and gold is their defense. DeAndre Jordan is way past his prime and Dwight Howard canāt stay out of foul trouble, so other teams are pretty much having a field day below the rim night in and night out.
Thatās why theyāve reportedly reached out to the Indiana Pacers inquiring about Myles Turner. Moreover, John Hollinger of The Athletic believes that heās a very realistic target ahead of the deadline.
NBA Rumors: Insider Claims Lakers Could Trade For Myles Turner
(Transcript via The Athletic)
āSo the name Iām left with for the Lakers is Myles Turner. He makes $18 million, so his salary works if Nunn and Horton-Tucker are outbound. Heās already signed for next season at that number, so the Lakersā salaries wonāt get too out of hand in the final $47 million year on Westbrookās deal. Turner plays center, which allows Davis to play his preferred power forward spot, but heās a 3-point shooter who wonāt get in the way like the current Laker centers do. His biggest weakness is rebounding, but Davis and LeBron are so good on that front, it probably wonāt hurt L.A.ā
Even if the Lakers donāt want to trade away Horton-Tucker, adding Myles Turner would definitely solve their rim protection issues. Theyād also have one of the most versatile two-way frontcourts in the league with him and Anthony Davis.
Turner wants to leave the Pacers and will most likely gauge plenty of trade interest in the market, so the Lakers may have to compete with other suitors. But thatās the deal they need to make if they want to salvage their season.
