This is probably one of the most controversial trades I could conceivably propose and I’m sure there will be lots of naysayers who reject the idea of trading KCP or AC for anybody. Even the trade machine seems to say the trade is a bad idea and would help the Pacers win 15 more games and the Lakers lose 15 more games. But what those fans and the trade machine ignore are trades are usually won by the team who gets the best players and what those best players do to improve that team’s roster.
But please at least keep an open mind and think about how adding Turner and Oladipo could transform the Lakers into a legitimate championship juggernaut and dynasty in a way that goes well beyond the LeBron James era. Turner is only 24-years old and has already been in DPOY discussions and at 6’11” and 250 pounds has the height and size to be a better rim protector and low post defender than McGee or Howard. And unlike either of them, he has enough lateral quickness and speed to defend stretch centers on the perimeter. He’s a better fit than DeMarcus Cousins to play center alongside Anthony Davis. He’s a better 3-point shooter ( career 35.7%) and defender.
Right now, the Lakers are playing their version of ‘small ball’ around 40% of the time. If they were to trade for Turner and then sign Boogie, they would be able to play that same deadly version of ‘small ball’ for 48 minutes per game, which would be devastating. While Morris did a great job at the four next to Davis at the five, he’s not the rim protector or perimeter defender that Turner is. There’s a reason the Celtics and Warriors want to trade for Myles and it’s specificially to add a player who can matchup with Davis. Adding him to the Lakers doubles down on the ‘small ball’ defense that powered the Lakers to their 17th championship and suddenly makes them younger at the five without forcing AD to play there all the time.
As for Oladipo, yes, he’s a gamble and would have to pass a physical by the Lakers medical team but a torn quad is not like a torn Achilles or knee and Victor should regain the athteticism that made him an All-NBA and All-Defensive player and he is still only 28-years old. Every NBA dynasty has had a superstar guard (LeBron is really that for these Lakers) and the third superstar the Lakers need to take over from LeBron and be the co-superstar with AD going forward is Oladipo. Trading for him will give us his Bird rights so if he recovers we can exceed the cap and sign him to a max deal, something we can’t do with a free agent like Giannis or if we sign-and-trade for a star. Trading for a young stud and then maxing him is the only way for the Lakers to get a third superstar. That’s why trading for Oladip is worth the risk.
Land them both and the Lakers suddenly are a team in its prime with a huge championship window that lasts way past when LeBron retires. It’s worth trading Kuz, KCP, AC, Green, McGee, and the pick because it creates a Lakers dynasty that could last for another five to six years.
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