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Myles Turner

How Lakers Could Trade for Turner and Hield and Still Bring Back Team

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The formula for the Lakers winning their 18th NBA title next season is to add Myles Turner and Buddy Hield to a core of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Lonnie Walker, and Max Christie.

The Lakers almost traded Russell Westbrook for Turner and Hield before the start of training camp last season but ultimately decided to wait until the trade deadline, which in the end looks like it was the right decision. Having made it to the conference finals, the Lakers still need more size and better shooting and defense to truly compete for an NBA championship. Ironically, what they need right now is Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.

Ultimately, the Lakers decided not to trade for Turner and Hield last summer because they did not believe adding them to the roster the team had at that point in time would have made them a championship team. Obviously, Pelinka’s trade deadline makeover changed the answer to that question. Adding Myles Turner and Buddy Hield to the conference finals team would make the Lakers favorites to win their 18th championship.

Let’s look at what a Lakers’ trade for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield might look like, why the Lakers and the Pacers would make the trade, and what the Lakers’ depth chart and salary cap would look like after the trade.

The Turner and Hield Trade

The Lakers trade Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba, Jarred Vanderbilt, #17 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, and team’s unprotected first round pick in the 2029 draft for Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and Indiana’s #29 pick in this draft.

The Pacers have the #7, #26, #29, #32, and #55 picks in this draft, which is more picks than they have roster spots. Their goal is to combine their #7 pick and the Lakers #17 pick to move up into the top-5 in the current draft. Because they have more picks than they’re able to use, the Pacers are willing to give the Lakers their #29 pick, which they originally received from Boston. The Lakers give up two high first rounders for one low one.

One interesting aspect of the trade is the two teams are swapping stretch centers and 3-point shooting guards. In Bamba and Beasley, the Pacers essentially receive poor man’s versions of Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. Bamba and Beasley could slide right into the rotation spots occupied by Turner and Hield. Since both are on reasonable contracts, the Pacers could also flip them before the trade deadline for younger players or picks.

While Beasley and Bamba have value as players and trading chips, it’s Jarred Vanderbilt and the Lakers’ #17 pick in this draft and their 2029 first round pick unprotected that make the trade a big win for the Pacers.

Why the Lakers Make the Trade

While trading for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield last summer might not have made the Lakers a championship team, adding the modern two-way center and elite 3-point shooter now could make L.A. the title favorites.

Despite successfully making it to the conference finals, the Lakers need more size and better shooting and defense to be a legitimate championship contender. That’s exactly where Myles Turner and Buddy Hield come in. Turner gives the Lakers an elite modern two-way center to anchor the defense, allowing Anthony Davis to split his minutes between the 4 and 5 and giving the Lakers solid positional size advantage in the front court.

27-year old Myles Turner had a career last season, averaging 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 0.6 steals in 29.4 minutes per game while shooting 54.8%/37.3%/78.3% on 11.8/4.0/4.5 shot attempts per game.
30-year old Buddy Hield also enjoyed an excellent last season, averaging 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 31.0 minutes per game while shooting 45.8/42.5/82.2% on 13.0/8.5/1.6 shot attempts per game.

Trading for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield dramatically improves the Lakers’ size, shooting, and defense and transforms last season’s conference finals team into a legitimate contender to win the NBA championship.

Why the Pacers Make the Trade

It looks as if the Indiana Pacers’ refusal last summer to lower their price of two first round draft picks for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield could end up paying off big this summer as the Lakers could revisit an Indiana trade.

Despite wanting to make the playoffs, the Indiana Pacers should move on from 27-year old Myles Turner and 30-year old Buddy Hield and rebuild around 23-year old Tyrese Haliburton and 20-year old Bennedict Mathurin. The Pacers want to upgrade their roster this summer with a small or power forward with star upside and are said to be interested in packaging their #7 pick with other assets to move up and draft a specific player in the top-5.

Besides finally landing the Lakers’ 2029 unprotected first round pick they coveted last year, the Pacers could package their #7 pick with the Lakers’ #17 pick to move up for whatever player they’re targeting in the top-5. Finally, receiving a talented young defensive wing like Jarred Vanderbilt and two tradable players on expiring contracts whom they can flip at the trade deadline make this trade a big winner for the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers rebuilding efforts will get a big boost by landing the Lakers #17 pick in this month’s draft, L.A.’s unprotected 2029 first round draft pick, and a promising young, defensive wing in 24-year old Jarred Vanderbilt.

Lakers Roster After the Trade

The Lakers’ starting lineup after the Pacers trade includes Austin Reaves, Buddy Hield, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Myles Turner with backups of Chris Paul, Max Christie, Lonnie Walker, Rui Hachimura, and James Nnaji.

Adding Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and Chris Paul to the conference finals core of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Max Christie, Rui Hachimura, and Lonnie Walker gives the Lakers an elite 9-man rotation. That rotation would enable the Lakers to have an elite rim protector on the court for 48 minutes of every game. They would be able to go jumbo-big with Turner and Davis or small-ball-on-steroids with Davis and James.

From a long-term perspective, adding two major pieces who are 27 and 30-years old and share the same championship window as Anthony Davis just continues the Lakers’ savvy efforts to become younger and more athletic.
The Lakers are betting on two more years of LeBron James as a superstar and are smartly preparing themselves to be ready to use the $50 million in cap space that will open up when James retires for another superstar.

Adding Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and Chris Paul and two draft picks to the core six players from the Lakers’ conference finals team should give the Lakers the size, shooting, and defense to win their 18th NBA championship.

Lakers Salary Cap After the Trade

While they’ll need to set limits to what they’ll pay free agents like Reaves, Hachimura, Walker, the Lakers’ total salaries will be under the $169 million hard cap without actually triggering any of the actions to force a hard cap.

Since the Lakers have not used their NT MLE or BAE or received a player via a sign-and-trade, they are not required to stay under the hard cap. They could easily decide to make moves, add payroll, and become a taxpayer. They could also hard cap themselves at $169 million by receiving a player via a sign-and-trade or deciding to use the $12.2 million NT MLE (Non-Taxpayer Mid Level Exception) or $4.4 million BAE (Bi-Annual Exception).

Pelinka and the Lakers front office have done a great job putting together an impressive portfolio of valuable players on tradable contracts that give them extensive ability to pounce on any opportunities that might come up. Rob should have won Executive of the Year for the masterful job he did making over the Lakers roster at the trade deadline. If he can pull off this Turner and Hield trade, he’ll finally be rewarded with next year’s award.

The bottom line is the Lakers would be in a very advantageous salary cap situation after trading for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. The team would be championship favorites with a talented roster full of tradable assets.

Myles Turner Plus Last Season Roster Would Transform Lakers Into Champs

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If the Lakers want to seriously compete for a championship, they need to trade Malik Beasley, Mo Bamba, and 2029 first round pick to the Pacers for Myles Turner and bring back their core rotation from last season’s roster.

That would give the Lakers a proven 12-man roster with 9 rotation players from last season’s ‘post-trade deadline’ roster, including James, Davis, Reaves, Russell, Vanderbilt, Christie, Walker, Hachimura, and Schroder. Besides trading for 6′ 11″ center Myles Turner, the Lakers would use their #17 pick in the first round for 6’11” Duke center Dereck Lively II and their #47 pick in the second round for 6′ 7″ Kentucky forward Chris Livingston.

The Lakers’ goal this offseason is not only to build a championship team but also to be in position two years from now to be the premier landing spot to attract an NBA superstar to replace LeBron James when he’s likely to retire. The Lakers want to do a better job making the transition from the LeBron James era than they did moving on from the Magic Johnson or Kobe Bryant eras, which were followed by years of bad rosters and losing seasons.

Pelinka has already said the Lakers were going to try to bring back the core of the team that surprised everybody by being the fourth best in the league after the trade deadline and making it all the way to the conference finals. The challenge will be to accomplish that without crossing the threshold of the league’s new draconian second luxury tax, which starts when a team’s payroll exceeds $186.5 million, which will become the NBA’s real hard cap.

Let’s look at what the Lakers would have to give up to trade for Turner, what they’re likely to do in the draft, how they’re going to bring back their core, and what their starting lineup and rotation would look like after the trade.

1. Lakers Trade With Pacers For Myles Turner

The Lakers have long coveted Indiana center Myles Turner and came close to trading for him before the start of last season before backing out at the last minute. The timing for pursuing Turner now appears to be perfect.

The Lakers need to get bigger, younger, and better defensively and easiest way to accomplish that is to trade for the Pacers’ 27-year old 6′ 11″ center Myles Turner and move LeBron James and Anthony Davis down a position. Turner is the crown Rob Pelinka needs to add to the masterful makeover of the Lakers’ roster he pulled off last trade deadline. He and a pair of stud rookies in Lively and Livingston are the final pieces to the Lakers’ puzzle.

When the Lakers and the Pacers discussed trading Turner last summer, Indiana wanted one first round pick for taking on Westbrook’s contract and one for Myles Turner with protection on the two picks a big sticking point. The trade was always about Turner for draft capital with any Lakers players simply being salary filler. Realistically, the Lakers are going to have to make their 2029 first round pick unprotected for the Pacers to make trade.

Trading for a starting center like Myles Turner would allow Anthony Davis and LeBron James to move down a position, have positional size advantage, and reduce physicality and avoid injury by playing against smaller players. With Turner replacing Vanderbilt, the Lakers starting lineup is suddenly dramatically better at both ends of the court. Turner adds both horizontal and vertical spacing on offense and is one of the league’s top shot blockers.

Finally, trading Beasley and Bamba for Turner will save the Lakers $5.8 million in annual salaries, which not only allows the Lakers to bring back almost everybody from last year but also to avoid the NBA’s new luxury tax.

2. Lakers Turn to Klutch Sports for 2023 Draft

The silver lining of this season is the Lakers ending up with the #17 and #47 picks in what should be an excellent draft class. Look for the Lakers to lean heavily on their long alliance with Klutch Sports when making their picks.

The Lakers’ biggest two roster priorities are finding an athletic center who can play defense and protect the rim and a legitimate bigger 3&D wing who can guard the bigger wing scorers who dominate the Western Conference. Fortunately for the Lakers, Rich Paul and Klutch Sports have two clients in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft in 6′ 11″ Duke center Dereck Lively II and 6′ 7″ 3&D wing Chris Livingston who would be excellent fits on their roster.

Lively has been projected to be drafted by the Lakers at #17 in several mock drafts while Livingston worked out for Los Angeles right after Klutch Sports Pro Day last week. Both are elite athletes who provide depth and upside. The Lakers as a team want to get younger, bigger, and better defensively. They got a great start when Pelinka remade the roster at the trade deadline and now Rob has an opportunity to finish the job with a killer NBA draft.

The Lakers’ scouting department has shown great ability to find talent late in the first round, second round, or undrafted. If they can land Dereck Lively II and Chris Livingston, they would deserve a draft grade of A+.

3. Lakers Bring Back Core of Last Year’s Team

The Los Angeles Lakers currently have 4 players still under contract in James, Davis, Vanderbilt, and Christie and 5 players whom they would like to bring back in Reaves, Hachimura, Russell, Schroder, and Walker.

The above salary cap projection show the Lakers re-signing restricted free agents Reaves and Hachimura to long-term contracts and unrestricted free agents Russell, Walker, and Schroder using Bird, Early Bird, and TPMLE.
Re-signing those 5 players would then mean the Lakers were returning 9 of 15 players from the roster that made it to the conference finals last year, which would give them better continuity heading into next season.

By saving $5.8 million in annual salary in the Myles Turner trade, the Lakers were able to keep their total salaries under the NBA’s $186.5 million second luxury tax threshold and avoid its multiple draconian competitive penalties. There’s no question the NBA’s new second luxury tax is essentially going to establish $186.5 million as the league’s ‘de facto’ hard cap because the penalties for exceeding the threshold greatly impact competitiveness.

By adding Turner and two draft picks to their core rotation from last year, the Lakers are projected to spend $185 million in salaries and pay $47 million in luxury taxes for a total annual payroll expense of $232 million. With three open roster spots for veteran players as insurance or younger players with upside, the Lakers have an opportunity to start next season with the best and deepest roster they’ve had in the LeBron and AD era.

This summer is the second phase of Rob Pelinka’s master class in extreme roster makeover. This summer’s trade for Turner and great draft should finally win Rob Pelinka his overdue trophy as NBA Executive of the Year.

4. Lakers Projected Championship Rotation

Almost every player on the Lakers expressed a desire to see what this team could have done if they had had a training camp and full season to play together, get to know each other, and build some chemistry and rapport.

Imagine bringing back the 9 best players from last season and adding Myles Turner and 2 promising draft picks to that roster. That might be the best 12-player roster in the NBA before you even add two or three more players. The Lakers’ starting lineup of Russell, Reaves, James, Davis, and Turner would be the biggest and baddest defensive team in the league and a bench of Schroder, Walker, Vanderbilt, Hachimura, and Lively would dominate.

This roster would also allow Lakers head coach Darvin Ham to play a deep and diverse 10-man rotation that could dramatically reduce their reliance on and workloads of overworked superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Lakers know the smartest way to keep their two superstars healthy is to reduce their minutes and workloads and surround them with players who will make their jobs easier and the team far more dangerous.

Ultimately, the Lakers’ roster goal to become younger, bigger, and better defensively will not only pay off by winning more NBA championships but also by making the Lakers the ideal landing spot for LeBron’s replacement. Successfully navigating the transition from LeBron James is right now a bigger challenge for the Lakers than winning next season. As always, the Lakers are trying to have their cake and eat it too. They just might do it.

Rob Pelinka has a great opportunity this summer to transform the Lakers into a championship team by bringing back the core rotation from last season, adding center Myles Turner, and drafting two Klutch Sports clients.

Lakers Are On the Clock But Which Teams Fit Best As Trading Partners?

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With LeBron James still dominating at 38 and Anthony Davis looking like the league MVP and DPOY, the Los Angeles Lakers may not need as much help to become a legitimate contender as their front office once thought.

What’s changed the Lakers front office thinking has not only been the top-5 superstar level play of James and Davis but also the recent breakout play received from Thomas Bryant, Dennis Schröder, and Russell Westbrook.
Bryant and Schröder have probably earned starting roles at center and point guard. Even without trades, Schröder, Reaves, James, Davis, and Bryant should be good enough as starters to finish as a top-6 seed.

Ironically, the development and evolution of the above starting lineup was the silver lining in the Lakers’ poor start to the season. Credit Ham and his player development oriented staff for emergence of this starting fivesome.
In camp, Westbrook, Walker, James, Davis, and Jones were the projected starters. but a slow start, Russ going to the bench, and James and Davis getting injured opened doors for Thomas Bryant and Dennis Schröder.

The Lakers still need a volume 3-point shooting two-guard like Hield or Burks, a bigger 3&D wing like Anunoby or Kuzma, and a true stretch five center like Turner or Bamba who can protect the rim when Davis is out.
While the Lakers are supposedly willing to give up their two first round picks for a third star like Zach LaVine or Bradley Beal, they’re more likely now to make a smaller trade involving Beverley, Nunn, and one pick.

The major negotiating point in every single one of these deals is going to be whether the Lakers will give up an unprotected pick because Beverley, Nunn, and Jones have no value other than their contract is expiring.
The Lakers should expect every team to demand an unprotected pick. There will be good trades to be made where the Lakers can still keep some protection but the Lakers should expect to have to give up protections.

A Beverley, Nunn, Jones, and one-pick trade just needs a single trading partner who has a package of players the Lakers covet. Here are the five teams who are the best fits to trade with the Lakers before the deadline:

1. Toronto Raptors

The Los Angeles Lakers best potential trading partner is the Toronto Raptors and their best trade is Beverley, Walker, Nunn, and the Lakers’ 2027 first round pick unprotected for Gary Trent, Jr. and Chris Boucher.

The Lakers give up an unprotected first round pick but receive in return a 23-year old 3&D shooting guard in Gary Trent, Jr. who averages 18.5 points per game and is a 38.5% career 3-point shooter on over 7 threes per game.
The Lakers also receive a 29-year old versatile forward/center in Chris Boucher who averaged 9.7 points, 5.7 boards, and 0.7 blocks per game in 20.9 minutes per game and can play both forwards and small ball center.

The Raptors are rebuilding around Scottie Barnes and are willing to trade everybody else. While the Lakers would be willing to give up both of their first round picks for Anunoby, this is a deal the Raptors should accept.

LAKERS DEPTH CHART AFTER TRADE:

PG: Dennis Schröder / Russell Westbrook / Open
SG: GARY TRENT JR / Austin Reaves / Lonnie Walker IV
SF: LeBron James / Troy Brown Jr / Max Christie
PF: Anthony Davis / Wenyen Gabriel / Juan Toscano-Anderson
CE: Thomas Bryant / CHRIS BOUCHER / Open

2. Detroit Pistons

The Los Angeles Lakers next best potential trading partner is the Detroit Pistons and their best trade is Beverley, Nunn, Jones and the Lakers 2027 first round pick unprotected for Bojan Bogdanovic and Saddiq Bey.

The Lakers give up an unprotected first round pick but receive a 33-year old 3&D small forward in Bojan Bogdanovic who averages 21.0 points per game and is a 39.4% career 3-point shooter on close to 7 attempts per game.
The Lakers also receive a 23-year old backup small forward in Saddiq Bey, who averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 boards, and 0.9 steals in 28.3 minutes per game and is a career 35.4% shooter from deep on 6 threes per game.

The Pistons wanted an unprotected first round pick to trade Bogdanovic. The Lakers give up the unprotected first round pick as quid pro quo for the Pistons including young 3&D wing Saddiq Bey as part of the transaction.

LAKERS DEPTH CHART AFTER TRADE:

PG: Dennis Schröder / Russell Westbrook / Open
SG: Austin Reaves / Lonnie Walker IV / Max Christie
SF: BOJAN BOGDANOVIC / SADDIQ BEY / Troy Brown Jr
PF: LeBron James / Wenyen Gabriel / Juan Toscano-Anderson
CE: Anthony Davis / Thomas Bryant / Open

3. Indiana Pacers

The Los Angeles Lakers next potential trading partner is the Indiana Pacers and their single best trade is Beverley, Nunn, Jones and the Lakers’ 2027 first round pick unprotected for Indiana center Myles Turner.

The Lakers give up an unprotected first round pick but receive a 26-year old stretch five center in Myles Turner who averages 17.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and is shooting 37.9% on close to 4 attempts per game.
Where Turner will have the greatest impact, however, will be on the Lakers’ defense. Pairing him with Anthony Davis will essentially enable the Lakers to put a lid on their basket for all 48 minutes of every single game.

The Pacers have demanded one first round pick for taking on Westbrook’s contract and one pick for Myles Turner. Indiana should have no problem accepting expiring contracts and an unprotected first for Myles Turner.

LAKERS DEPTH CHART AFTER TRADE:

PG: Dennis Schröder / Russell Westbrook / Max Christie
SG: Austin Reaves / Lonnie Walker IV / Open
SF: LeBron James / Troy Brown Jr / Open
PF: Anthony Davis / Wenyen Gabriel / Juan Toscano-Anderson
CE: MYLES TURNER / Thomas Bryant / Open

4. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are also an excellent trading partner for the Los Angeles Lakers and their best trade is Beverley, Nunn, Jones and the 2027 first round pick unprotected for Jakob Poeltl and Josh Richardson.

The Lakers give up an unprotected first round pick but receive an elite 27-year old defensive center in Jakob Poeltl, who averages 11.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 26.4 minutes per game and shoots over 60%.
The Lakers also receive a 29-year old 6′ 6″ shooting guard with a 6′ 10″ wingspan in Josh Richardson, who’s also an outstanding defender and career 36.5% 3-point shooter and has the size to play small forward.

The Spurs are in a complete rebuild and expiring contracts and a post-LeBron James unprotected Lakers first round draft pick should be enough for them to trade Jakob Poeltl and Josh Richardson to Los Angeles.

LAKERS DEPTH CHART AFTER TRADE:

PG: Dennis Schröder / Russell Westbrook / Max Christie
SG: JOSH RICHARDSON / Austin Reaves / Lonnie Walker IV
SF: LeBron James / Troy Brown Jr / Open
PF: Anthony Davis / Wenyen Gabriel / Juan Toscano-Anderson
CE: Thomas Bryant / JAKOB POELTL / Open

5. Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic are also an excellent trading partner for the Los Angeles Lakers and their best trade is Beverley, Nunn, Jones and the Lakers’ 2027 unprotected pick for Mo Bamba and Terrence Ross.

The Lakers give up an unprotected pick but receive a talented 24-year old backup center in Mo Bamba, who averages 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 18.3 minutes per game and shoots over 37% from deep.
The Lakers also receive a 31-year old 6′ 7″ shooting guard in Terrence Ross, who’s also a good defender and career 36.2% 3-point shooter on over 4 attempts per game with the size to play shooting guard or small forward.

The Magic are in a complete rebuild so expiring contracts and a post-LeBron James unprotected Lakers first round draft pick should be enough for them to trade Mo Bamba and Terrence Ross to Los Angeles.

LAKERS DEPTH CHART AFTER TRADE:

PG: Dennis Schröder / Russell Westbrook / Max Christie
SG: TERRENCE ROSS / Austin Reaves / Lonnie Walker IV
SF: LeBron James / Troy Brown Jr / Open
PF: Anthony Davis / Wenyen Gabriel / Juan Toscano-Anderson
CE: Thomas Bryant / MO BAMBA/ Open

6. Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bull are also a potential Los Angeles Lakers trading partner and their best potential trade for Beverley, Nunn, Jones, Walker, and the Lakers’ unprotected 2027 first round pick for DeMar DeRozan.

While some might question the fit, the Lakers have long coveted DeMar DeRozan and almost traded for him instead of Russell Westbrook last summer. Here’s a DeRozan trade that does not include Russell Westbrook.
Instead, the Lakers add Lonnie Walker to the package to make salaries match. DeRozan averaged 26.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 36.0 minutes per game. He’s not a good 3-point shooter but an elite scorer

The Bulls aren’t ready to trade LaVine but would probably jump at the chance to trade DeRozan for the Lakers 2027 unprotected first round pick. Despite no deep threat, DeRozan would make the Lakers dangerous.

LAKERS DEPTH CHART AFTER TRADE:

PG: Dennis Schröder / Russell Westbrook / Open
SG: Austin Reaves / Max Christie / Open
SF: DEMAR DEROZAN / Troy Brown Jr / Open
PF: LeBron James / Wenyen Gabriel / Juan Toscano-Anderson
CE: Anthony Davis / Thomas Bryant / Open

Blockbuster Trade Transforms Lakers From Lottery to NBA Championship!

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While the Lakers lost to the Suns last night, the fourth straight dominating performance by center Anthony Davis, this time against a much tougher opponent in Deandre Ayton, was more important than winning the game.

The resurgent Lakers gave the more talented Suns everything they could handle, almost overcoming a 36-point disadvantage in 3-point shooting by making 26 more free throws and scoring 10 more points-in-the-paint. 
While the Lakers’ poor 3-point shooting doomed them to lose this game, the continued dominance by AD is looking more and more like the real thing. Last night’s performance was Davis’ best in the last four games.

Rob Pelinka has promised the Lakers would trade both first round draft picks if the team proved worthy of that investment and if the trade would actually transform the team into a legitimate championship contender. 
The Lakers should win the next 4 games and finish November 9–11, winning 7 of their last 8 games with AD as the featured superstar and proving to management the team was worthy of trading the two picks.

Here’s a three-team, three-player mega trade between the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Indiana Pacers that will transform the L.A. from a likely lottery team to a legitimate NBA championship contender:

The Three-Team, Three-Player Trade

The Lakers trade Russell Westbrook and an unprotected 2027 pick to the Nets for Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry plus Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn, and an unprotected 2029 first round pick to the Pacers for Myles Turner.

The trade is salary neutral for all three teams, meaning no increase in current season payroll or luxury taxes. None of the involved players qualify as recently traded or signed so there is no need to wait before trading. 
Another benefit for all the teams is the six players involved are on expiring contracts so the trade would thus be ‘cap space neutral’ and ‘salary neutral.’ Teams would have the same amount of cap space after as before the trade.

The big question is whether these three teams really want to trade. The Lakers talk about sacrificing this season to keep their picks for a mega trade this summer. Who knows what the Nets and Pacers are going to do. 
For them, the trade is not about the players coming back. Whether this trade happens or not comes down to the value Brooklyn and Indiana assign Los Angeles’ post-LeBron James unprotected first round draft picks.

This trade solves each of the team’s major personnel issues without hurting their current salary, luxury tax, or cap space situations. Lakers move Russ. Nets dump Kyrie, Pacers avoid losing Turner to free agency for nothing.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers Make the Trade

The Lakers make the trade because it transforms them from a lottery team to legitimate championship contender. Adding Irving and Turner to James, Davis, and Walker could give the Lakers’ the league’s best starting lineup.

Swapping Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, and Kendrick Nunn for Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry, and Myles Turner gives the Lakers three players who can shoot the three and a stretch five center who can protect the rim.
In addition to solid bench contributors like Dennis Schröder, Seth Curry, and Austin Reaves, the Lakers should have dramatically improved depth along with the improved versatility to play jumbo big or super small.

Besides upgrading the starting lineup and depth, the trade essentially swaps one package of expiring contracts for a different package, meaning the Lakers will still have $35 million in open cap space this summer. 
That will give them the option of using Bird rights or some or all of their $35 million in open cap space to re-sign or extend Irving, Curry, Turner, and/or Walker or use some or all of the cap space to sign free agents.

This is the perfect trade for the Lakers as it not only gives them a chance to win their 18th NBA championship this season but also gives them three elite players who could easily be valuable teammates going forward.

Why the Nets and Pacers Make the Trade

The Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers are interested in trading with the Los Angeles Lakers for one simple reason. They both want the opportunity to trade for the Lakers 2027 and/or 2029 unprotected first round draft picks.

The reason these picks are projected to be so valuable is the fact that they’re unprotected and are for seasons when superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis will both likely have retired and no longer with the team. 
Opposing teams remember the Lakers picking 7th, 2nd, and 2nd in the NBA Draft in the years immediately following Kobe Bryant’s retirement. That’s why there’s so many teams looking to acquire those Lakers picks.

Like the Lakers, the Nets and the Pacers will also appreciate that the trade does not affect the team’s current salary, luxury taxes, or open cap space. What it does do, however, is accomplish major goals for both teams.
For the Nets, the main goal is to get rid of Kyrie Irving so they can move on. For the Pacers, it’s getting maximum return for center Myles Turner so they don’t have to risk losing him for nothing in free agency this summer.

The Nets want to dump Irving and the Lakers are their only possible trading partner. The Pacers want to move Turner before they lose him for nothing in free agency. What they both want are the Lakers’ picks.

Lakers Need Three New Starters Who Better Complement James and Davis

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The Los Angeles Lakers would be smart to prioritize fit with LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the most important factor when deciding with whom to trade and what players to pursue to complete their unfinished roster.

It’s not like there’s a secret to building a roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. You need size so Davis can play his preferred, less physical power forward position rather than center and lots of 3-point shooting. We’ve seen the last two seasons what happens when you don’t surround LeBron and AD with players who fit as the Lakers followed their 2020 championship in the bubble by missing the playoffs two years in a row.

To upgrade the roster to give rookie head coach Darvin Ham the right players to fit the offensive and defensive schemes he brought with him from the Bucks, the Lakers goal must be to trade for three new starters. Right now, the Lakers’ current roster desperately needs more size and shooting. Neither of their young centers is ready to start and none of the starting guards has the elite volume 3-point shooting to space the floor.

The Lakers need a starting center who can space the floor and protect the rim, a starting shooting guard who can rain threes, and a starting point guard who can make plays, shoot the three, and defend his position. Trading Westbrook and draft capita for three legitimate starter quality players would not only dramatically upgrade the starting lineup but also the bench with the three players who are currently starting for L.A.

Assuming LeBron James will play small forward and Anthony Davis his favored power forward, the Lakers would then need to trade Russell Westbrook for a new starting center, shooting guard, and point guard.

Starting Center?

To replicate Darvin Ham’s offensive and defensive schemes, the Lakers need a stretch five center who can space the floor and protect the rim. It’s a critical role that the team hoped Thomas Bryant or Damian Jones could fill.

Unfortunately, neither Bryant or Jones has been up to the challenge of starting, forcing the Lakers to start injury prone Anthony Davis at the five despite his injury history and publicly stated preference to play the four. One of the Lakers top priority in trading Russell Westbrook is acquiring a modern center who can both space the court as well as protect the rim. The top candidate for that position is Indiana Pacers’ center Myles Turner.

Turner is unique as he not only allows Anthony Davis to play his preferred power forward position and LeBron James his normal small forward position which gives both Lakers superstars positional size advantage. Myles Turner not only solves the Lakers need for a stretch five center ala the Bucks’ Brook Lopez but also provides the spacing to unleash superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis to cause havoc by getting to the rim.

There are other viable big man candidates who could be good stretch fits with the Lakers, including the Jazz’ Lauri Markkanen and Kelly Olynyk, but neither of them is the rim protector and shot blocker than Myles Turner is. Trading with Utah Jazz for both Markkanen and Olynyk along with Beasley and Clarkson, however, could be an attractive alternative for the Lakers to trading with the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.

While Turner will boost the Lakers’ offense, it’s what he will do the Lakers #2 ranked NBA defense that excites basketball aficionados and fans most. Turner would elevate the Lakers’ defense to be the best in the league.

Starting Shooting Guard?

While the Lakers need to upgrade their team 3-point shooting, trading for Indiana Pacers elite volume 3-point shooting guard Buddy Hield would be an immediate and massive improvement to their ability to space the floor.

The Lakers have long coveted Buddy Hield, who’s the kind of dead-eye volume 3-point shooter other teams cannot afford to leave alone because he is a career 39.8% 3-point shooter who averages 7.6 threes per game. Buddy is off to a sizzling start this season, averaging 17.8 points, 5.4 boards, and 4.1 dimes while shooting 42.7% from deep on 9.7 attempts per game, 5th behind Steph Curry, Dame Lillard, Kyrie Irving, and Anfernee Simons.

Right now, the lack of a 3-point shooting threat has enabled opposing defenses to pack the paint against LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook and to limit how often they can get to the basket. 
Besides Buddy Hield, the Lakers have shown interest in Josh Richardson, Eric Gordon, and other elite 3-point shooters. The fact that the Pacers have the Lakers top options at center and shooting guard makes Indy a priority.

While Buddy Hield is not a great defender, he is a great 3-point shooter. He is so dangerous that teams cannot afford to leave him alone or even to help off him. He essentially turns the game into 4-on-4 for the Lakers offense. The difference in the spacing a team gets when they play 4-on-4 vs. 5-on-5 is potentially game changing for a team like the Lakers whose superstars are not elite long range shooters who prefer to attack the paint and rim.

Buddy Hield is the perfect fit to provide the Lakers with the elite high volume, high percentage 3-point shooting they need to give LeBron James and Anthony Davis the spacing and open lanes they need to attack the rim.

Starting Point Guard

Once the Lakers trade Westbrook to the Pacers for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, they need to make a trade with the unfortunate Charlotte Hornets who may have been forced to tank by the lure of Victor and Melo injury.

The target of that trade would be Hornets’ point guard and shot creator extraordinaire Terry Rozier, who is in the first year of a massive 4-year $96 million extension that Michael Jordan might be seriously reconsidering. Dumping 4-year $96 million contracts usually cost an NBA team a first round pick. The Lakers should be able to trade for Rozier ($21M/Yr) with Beverley’s million and Nunn’s ($18M/Yr Combined) expiring contracts.

Like Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, Terry Rozier is also off to a hot start to the season, averaging 23.5 points, 7.0 boards, and 8.5 dimes while shooting 40.0% on 7.5 threes per game. Hornets are now 3–4 and 9th in the East. 
Once the season hits the 20-game mark, Jordan is likely to decide the smart move is to tank the season and see if they get lucky and get a top pick, while at the same time assessing what’s going to happen with Bridges and Ball.

The biggest thing that Rozier brings to the Lakers is the ability to get a shot for himself or a teammate any time in the game. He’s the perfect replacement for Russell Westbrook in that he’s an elite 3-point shooter. 
The Lakers have spent the last two years, multiple reliable role players, and a couple of sorely missed draft picks futilely trying to find somebody who could play point guard and take primary playmaking duties from LeBron.

Terry Rozier is exactly what the Lakers need to accomplish the goal of giving the ball to somebody else to make the team more versatile and dangerous and reduce the playmaking load from superstar LeBron James.

Championship Contender?

The addition of Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and Terry Rozier clearly give the Los Angeles Lakers the additional front court size and 3-point shooting to become a legitimate contender to win their 18th NBA championship.

Right now, the Lakers have the 2nd ranked defense in the league and the 30th ranked offense. The additions of Turner, Hield, and Rozier should dramatically upgrade the Lakers offensively, especially their shooting. 
The addition of Myles Turner should make the Laker 2nd ranked defense even better as Darvin Ham will be able to have an elite shot blocker and rim protector on the court for the full 48 minutes of every NBA game.

The L.A. Lakers traded three players — Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, and Kendrick Nunn (plus two first round draft picks) — to the Indiana Pacers for three players — Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and Terry Rozier. That leaves the Lakers with 15 players on the roster plus two-way players Cole Swider and Scotty Pippin, Jr. Even after moving Westbrook, the Lakers will have $24 million in expiring contracts to use at the trade deadline.

It will be interesting to see whether the Lakers continue tweaking their roster at the trade deadline. On December 15, recently signed players will be eligible to be traded as well as players traded before October 15th. 
While the Lakers won’t have any draft picks to trade at the deadline, they will have, besides James and Davis, over $65 million in tradeable contracts, including Rozier’s $21.4 million, Hield’s $21.1 million, Turner’s $18 million.

Trading Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn, and two first round picks for Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, and Terry Rozier would make the Los Angeles Lakers legitimate contenders for their 18th championship.