For a franchise that won the championship a year and a half ago by being the physically bigger and more athletically dominant team, the Lakers seem to have forgotten how much size matters, even in today’s positionless NBA.
The Lakers’ lack of front court size other than LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be at the heart of their plans to rebuild their roster this offseason. The question is whether to acquire more size via a small forward or center? While pursuing a small forward like Jerami Grant makes sense, trading for a modern center who can protect the rim and stretch the floor like Christian Wood or Myles Turner could be a smarter strategic move for the Lakers.
Trading for Christian Wood or Myles Turner has distinct advantages over trading for Jerami Grant. Most importantly, it lets Anthony Davis and LeBron James play their preferred power forward and small forward positions. Adding a center like Christian Wood or Myles Turner would also give the Lakers the versatility to play play big or small and empower them to have a leading shot blocker protecting the rim for all 48 minutes of every game.
While many expect the Lakers to pursue Jerami Grant, the Lakers should surprise everybody and zig while the rest of the league zags. Dominating size was a big part of the formula the Lakers used to win their 18th title. They need the intimidating rim protection of their title run in the bubble but updated with a modern center who can not only block shots but also create desperately needed spacing by pulling opposing big men out of the paint.
The Los Angeles’ Lakers objective this summer should be to trade Russell Westbrook and rebuild the team’s starting lineup with elite 3-point shooters and defenders to complement superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Ideally, the Lakers need to find a trading partner to take Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, and their 2027 and 2029 first round picks in return for a new starting point guard, shooting guard, and center.
Here are two proposed mega trades to give the Lakers three new starters. They acquire Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, and Buddy Hield from the Pacers or Christian Wood, John Wall, and Eric Gordon from the Rockets.
Pacers’ Trade for Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, and Buddy Hield
The Lakers logical trade partner this summer should be the Pacers, who are in the middle of a total rebuild, having already traded Sabonis, LeVert, Holiday, Lamb, and Craig with Turner, Brogdon, and Hield still on the block.
The core of the Lakers and Pacers trade is Russell Westbrook’s $47 million expiring contract in a salary dump for the $40.5 million over two years owed Buddy Hield and the $44.3 million over two years owed Malcolm Brogdon. The Lakers would move to expand the trade by adding Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, and their 2027 and 2029 first round draft picks to the deal to convince the Pacers to include Myles Turner’s $18 million expiring contract.
For the Lakers, the trade transforms their starting lineup at both ends with Malcolm Brogdon and Buddy Hield becoming the starting guards and Myles Turner the starting center playing with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Suddenly, the perimeter defense, rim protection, playmaking, rebounding, points in the paint, 3-point shooting, ball security, and floor spacing for the Lakers starting lineup dramatically improves over this year’s starting lineup.
The beauty of the Pacers trade is the Lakers total payroll remains about the same as this season as will the team’s luxury tax bill. The team also gets younger with the 26-year old Turner and 29-year old Brogdon and Hield. Winning with LeBron requires surrounding the King with high volume, high percentage 3-point shooters and adding Turner, Hield, and Brogdon should move the Lakers’ 3-point attempts and percentage to top five.
While Myles Turner, Malcolm Brogdon, and Buddy Hield are not superstars, they’re the three legitimate championship quality starters the Lakers need to complement superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis and win #18.
Rockets’ Trade for Christian Wood, John Wall, and Eric Gordon
The Lakers other top trade partner this summer should be the Rockets, who are undergoing a major rebuild and will be looking to move veterans like Eric Gordon, John Wall, and Christian Wood for young prospects and draft picks.
The core of the Lakers and Rockets trade is a swap of Russell Westbrook’s $47 million expiring contract for John Wall’s $47 million expiring contract as the Lakers and Westbrook mutually agreed to part ways the end of year. The Lakers would expand the trade by adding Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, Stanley Johnson, and their 2027 and 2029 first round picks to get the Pacers to include Christian Wood and Eric Gordon in the deal.
For the Lakers, the trade transforms their starting lineup at both ends with John Wall and Eric Gordon becoming the starting guards and Christian Wood the starting center playing with superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Suddenly, the Lakers become a more versatile and dangerous team that can play five-out small-ball-on-steroids with three of the best small ball centers in the league in Anthony Davis, Christian Wood, and LeBron James.
The one negative to this trade is that the Lakers total salaries increase by $16.3 million, which could result in extra luxury taxes unless the Lakers move Wall, which they will have the opportunity to do before the deadline. There’s a good chance they could use Wall’s $47 million expiring contract to pick up some bench depth much like the Clippers were able to do this year at the deadline with their great midseason trade for Powell and Covington.
While Christian Wood, Eric Gordon, and John Wall are not superstars, they’re the three legitimate championship quality starters the Lakers need to complement superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis and win #18.
The more LeBron and AD get injured, the more I think bringing in a young stretch center like Turner or Wood makes a lot of sense. It would let the Lakers still play the same small ball style of play with Turner or Wood stretching the floor.
What’s ironic about the entire situation is if the Lakers had made that decision last year, head coach Frank Vogel might not be fighting for his coaching life right now. Anyway, time for the Lakers to invest in starting center for the future in either Myles Turner or Christian Wood.
The Lakers have shown interest in Turner last summer and in Wood at the trade deadline so there’s clearly some interest by Pelinka in adding a stretch five center to strengthen the Lakers front court situation. Both players are 26-years old, although Turner is the more proven product and is much bigger. Wood may be a better 3-point shooter and more explosive finisher attacking the rim.
Either would bring dynamic athleticism and shot blocking to the Lakers. While I do like Jerami Grant, I’m not sure he would have the impact that Wood or Turner would have because we would still be relying on AD and LeBron at the five and four full time rather than as a closing lineup because they can platy big with LeBron, AD, and Turner or Wood.
Here we go again. How’s that Turner injury coming?
It’s not serious and he should be fully recovered by start of next season.
I thought he was supposed to be back this year?
I’d be perfectly fine with an elite defender at the 5, don’t see the need for a stretch five unless one becomes available for the right deal. With the theory being AD and LBJ will be relatively healthy after another long summer I think we need to truly re-focus our identity back to defense. I’d love Turner but don’t see Indy making that deal as they are never in “full rebuild mode” and ownership has said as much. Maybe THT and Nunn for Myles rather than shoot for the Moon with a mega trade. At any rate, give me a young athletic center who can finish at the rim and in the paint if it’s doable rather than hold out for a unicorn type multi-tool player. Honestly, Turner isn’t even that great at shooting the 3 and is hurt a lot, give me a dude who can go 82.
While both Turner and Wood are 26-years old, Turner is by far the more proven product and a bigger, better rim protector and low post defender due to his 6′ 11″ and 250 lbs. Turner is a career 34.9% 3-point shooter who’s averaging 4.4 3PA per game.
Besides giving you some spacing, Turner is a better low post scorer and lob and pick and roll finisher than Howard at this point. He truly has the size to defend Embiid and Jokic. Unlike Howard and McGee and traditional low post centers, his ability to stretch the floor makes it hard to play him off the floor.
And the Lakers can then switch up on teams and go small with AD or LeBron at the five as a change of pace or better matchup. I love the versatility that Turner would give us.
…
Wood is more of a poor man’s Anthony Davis. He’s less experienced than Turner but smaller and lighter at 6′ 9″ and 214 lbs, is a much more aggressive rim attacker and dunker, and a better 3-point shooter: 38.1% on 4.9 3PA per game.
Wood could play stretch four or five whereas Turner is a five. Wood probably has poor man’s AD potential to defend smaller players with his speed, athleticism, and hops.
Only questions about Wood are his motor and character as he can be moody and is still very inexperienced. On the other hand, the Lakers could probably trade for him more easily than Turner and his upside could be greater: a true version of Anthony Davis lite.