The trade for Russ forced the Lakers to go all-in on small ball with AD at the five. Unfortunately, the Lakers’ current version of small ball can’t protect the rim and is getting killed on the boards and outscored in the paint.
The problem with the Lakers’ small ball lineups is they are simply ‘too small.’ Opposing teams are hunting their undersized guards and small forwards and scoring at will in the restricted area and physically dominating at both ends. The Lakers hope in the short term to weather the storm until Trevor Ariza returns from injury in early December and then probably make a trade at the deadline to bring in a bigger 3&D wing player to supplement Ariza.
The question the Lakers need to be asking themselves right now is what move will help make the Russell Westbrook experiment work? It may be time for Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office to think outside of the box.
Why Lakers Should Trade for Myles Turner Instead of Small Forward
The Lakers’ version of small-ball-on-steroids works because size, length, athleticism, and physicality matter in the NBA as long as you don’t lose skill and speed in the process. That’s why Lakers’ small-ball-on-steroids works.
For Westbrook to work with LeBron and AD, the Lakers need to get bigger, which is why Frank Vogel had earlier reintroduced the idea of playing two bigs together and then experimented with it again last night against Detroit. But there’s another route to getting even bigger that could ultimately be better for the Lakers than relying on Ariza or a trying to trade for a bigger 3&D wing, which is what every team in the league is also trying to do.
Instead of pursuing a bigger 3&D wing to play small forward, why not pursue a dynamic young two-way center like Myles Turner who would give the Lakers the rim protector they need and the stretch five they’ve coveted. Vogel could then play his preferred two bigs, Davis his preferred power forward , and James his preferred small forward. You could argue James, Davis, and Turner could be the best front court trio in the league.
Trading for Turner would give the Lakers better rim protection and enable their perimeter defenders to more closely defend the 3-point line. More importantly, the move would make the Lakers a better more versatile team. They could go big or small, play outside-in with 5-out sets to open lanes for LeBron, AD, and Russ to attack the rim, or play inside-out with Turner and Davis as a two-big twin towers set that can dominate the paint and glass.
The Lakers should double down on their small-ball-on-steroids lineup by trading for Myles Turner instead of a small forward. Turner would make them a more dangerous offensive team and more potent defensive team.
How Lakers Trading for Myles Turner Will Help Russell Westbrook
The reason the Lakers should pursue Myles Turner instead of trading for a bigger 3&D wing player is adding a stretch center will make their critical small-ball-on-steroids lineups and Russell Westbrook experiment work.
Not only will the move give the Lakers better rim protection, perimeter defense, rebounding, floor spacing, and vertical gravity at the rim, it would also allow the Lakers to have an elite shot blocker on the court at all times. Playing Myles Turner and Anthony Davis at the same time would put a lid on the basket at the start and end of games for the Lakers and guarantee elite shot blocking and rim protection for all 48 minutes of every single game.
Offensively, having two modern centers capable of stretching the court with 3-point shooting or putting pressure on the rim with with vertical gravity as lob and dunk threats will transform both the Lakers’ offense and defense. Being able to play Vogel’s favored two bigs lineups while still being able to create spacing to attack the rim will transform the Lakers ‘too small’ small ball lineups into versatile and unstoppable small-ball-on-steroids lineups.
Trading for Myles Turner will elevate the Lakers into a juggernaut at both ends of the court. It’s the key to unleashing Russell Westbrook at the one and allowing LeBron and AD to play their preferred three and four positions. Adding Turner is also another dagger into the heart of the Lakers’ struggle figuring out how to win the frustrating non-LeBron James minutes that have been the team’s Achilles Heel since signing the King three seasons ago.
The Lakers need to go all-in on making the Russell Westbrook experience work and trading for Myles Turner is the smart move to turn their ‘too small’ small ball lineups into more versatile small-ball-on-steroids lineups.
What Would the Lakers Have to Give Up to Trade for Myles Turner?
After three seasons of rent-a-centers and frustration over AD not wanting to play the five, it’s time for the Lakers to stabilize the center position by trading for an elite two-way center like Myles Turner at the trade deadline.
With the Pacers having to break up their twin towers of Turner/Sabonis, the Lakers should offer Indiana a package that includes young studs Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn and veteran center DeAndre Jordan. Turner will be in demand so the Lakers may have to include a future first round pick or another promising young player like Malik Monk to beat other teams’ offers but it’s the right move to make to optimize LeBron’s window.
Another important benefit of the trade is that it fixes the Lakers’ roster imbalance between bigs and smalls and opens up two roster spots for major upgrades via another trade at the deadline or pickup in the buyout market. Here’s what the Lakers’ starting lineup and depth chart would look after trading young guards Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn and veteran center DeAndre Jordan to the Indiana Pacers for center Myles Turner:
PG: WESTBROOK, Monk, Rondo,
SG: REAVES, Ellington, Bradley
SF: JAMES, Bazemore
PF: DAVIS, Anthony, Ariza
CE: TURNER, Howard
Trading for Turner would give the Lakers a dramatically stronger starting lineup at both ends of the court, solid backups at all five positions, and room to take advantage of other opportunities to upgrade the end of the roster.
Watching Frank Vogel starting DeAndre Jordan and returning to his two bigs starting lineup has convinced me that the Lakers should go all-in on small-ball-on-steroids and trade for the Pacers’ center Myles Turner, who would give Los Angeles the league’s top shot blocker who is also shooting over 4 0% from deep. He is the perfect rim protector and floor stretcher the Lakers need to turbo charge their small ball lineups.
There is no move for a small forward that could match the benefits that trading THT, Nunn, and Jordan for Turner would bring. Better rim protection, rebounding, interior and perimeter defense, floor stretching, vertical gravity for lobs and dunks, offensive rebounds and put backs. Lakers can go big or small with multiple effective lineups. They can have an elite rim protector on the court for all 48 minutes.
The Lakers have often showed interest in Turner and it’s become obvious that Myles and Sabonis won’t work so I’m hoping the Lakers’ front office will see the writing on the wall with respect to AD, LeBron, and Frank questioning the AD at the five move. The logical result would be the Lakers bringing in an elite stretch five who can protect the rim. If they can’t acquire Turner, I would then try for Christian Wood, who is too old for what is turning into a uber rebuilding mode by the Rockets that will make Wood expendable.
Lakers need to get bigger so why not go all the way with a Turner and Davis super front court?
Pacers are not going to make that trade Tom. It may work in the trade machine and I like our guys, but our guys are not what they need. They are set in the back court with Brogden, Duarte and Levert. They lack depth at the 3 and Sabonis is their only PF. They can do better, plus we have no 1st rounders we can trade for several years. Turner is a quality player. There are several teams with better trade assets.The Warriors have been mentioned and they have players that are better fits and draft picks available. There is always the question of resigning Nunn, Indy isn’t exactly free agent paradise.
Now one of your trade targets that could make sense is Cam Reddish. Although Hunter is out for 2 months for the Hawks. The Hawks do not have a back up for Trae. Nunn would be a perfect fit. Lou Will is washed and only playing 12 minutes. The only problem is the Hawks may not be able to resign Nunn because of Salary cap. But if the Hawks get back into the play off hunt they maybe okay with that considering what the will have to pay Reddish.
There will definitely be teams who appreciate what Myles brings to a team with his rim protection and 3-point shooting but I still think the Lakers need to go all-in to get him. If that fails, I would turn to Christian Wood or even consider Kelly Olynyk.
I’m hoping THT and Nunn will increase their values as future stars. If necessary, I would even throw in Monk since we likely will not be able to re-sign him this summer since we don’t have his or Nunn’s Bird rights. Need to flip them at the deadline for player under contract beyond next summer.
Most NBA teams don’t respect what an elite center can bring to the table or don’t view Turner or any center as worth $17 million per year. I think if the Lakers went after him, they could land him.
I also like Cam Reddish or Jerami Grant but I think the price to land either of them would be greater than what it would cost to land Myles Turner. Bigger 3&D wings are the gold coins of the NBA now. Non-superstar centers are not considered worth big money.
This one of the few trade target’s you’ve consistently pursued that I agree with. May take a little more grease than we have, though. Indy is either going to start tanking or start winning. If it goes full tank that means they’ll want picks. Might have to look at adding OKC and sending them Nunn and getting them to send back a player of equivalent salary that’s not in the rotation and one of their eleventy billion draft picks.
At any rate, Turner is such a perfect fit for us I also think another team would outbid us just to stop it from happening if he would also help them in the doing. There ought to be a lot of competition for his services, if Indy is even looking to move him
Turner would be perfect fit for the Lakers. He would also give us a great 4/5 tandem that’s 28 and 25 years old and can keep us competitive once LeBron James retires. This is a move the Lakers need to make. It would stun the league and elevate the Lakers to dynasty territory. Hope you’re paying attention, Rob.
My argument isn’t about fit. He would be great. It’s staying realistic. Which I know isn’t fun for a fan blog. But our trade pieces would be redundant. They need front line help, not back court. Plus’s our lack draft capital makes it even more unlikely. There are teams that could use him with more to offer. The Warriors had talks with the Pacers at last years trade deadline, this summer and there were rumors as late as a week or so ago of a conversation. The Warriors could offer a package centered around of Kuminga. The kid is a combo forward that looks like the real deal. They have draft picks and other young players. If the Warriors to swing a trade it will definitely be bad news for us.