While a third superstar to go with LeBron James and Anthony Davis to match the Nets’ Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden would be great, the perfect move for the Lakers could be to trade for Myles Turner.
In fact, there’s a case to be made that trading for Turner would be a smarter and more realistic move for the Lakers than trading for a superstar and Myles just might be available as playing him next to Sabonis is not working. However, it’s still going to take an impressive offer from the Lakers to tempt the Pacers to trade Turner, who’s leading the league with career best 3.4 blocks and career best 1.1 steals in a career high 31.5 minutes per game.
That’s why the Lakers need to offer a package for Myles Turner the Pacers couldn’t refuse: 27-year old 6MOY Montrezl Harrell, 25-year old two-way star Kyle Kuzma, and 20-year old potential superstar Talen Horton-Tucker.
Let’s review why this is a win-win trade, why Myles Turner could be key to the win-now Lakers repeating as champs, and why Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, and Talen Horton-Tucker could transform the Pacers into winners.
WHY THE TRADE IS A WIN FOR LAKERS!
The Los Angeles Lakers have two serious needs that must be addressed to repeat as NBA champs: better rim protection and more 3-point shooting. Trading for Myles Turner dramatically improves the Lakers in both areas.
While he’s not a superstar per se, Turner has the skill set to arguably be a superstar in the role he’d play on the Lakers, which is a modern starting center who can protect the rim on defense and space the floor on offense. Myles leads the league in blocked shots and has the quickness and mobility to defend smaller players on the perimeter. He’s also a career 34.7% 3-point shooter who takes 4.6 threes per game and finishes ferociously at the rim.
Turner is the missing puzzle piece that elevates the Lakers’ top ranked championship defense to the next level. He and Anthony Davis would give the Lakers’ defense an unmatched pair of pterodactyl sized shot blockers. More importantly, the Lakers could stagger Turner’s and Davis’ minutes to keep an elite rim protector on the floor for the entire game. And Myles has the size, mobility, hops, and athleticism to defend Jokic and Embiid.
Turner gives the Lakers the low post dunks off lobs and rugged rebounding they’ve missed without McGee and Howard and a faster, quicker, and more mobile defender who can rotate and challenge shooters on the perimeter. Unlike last year’s old school low post centers, Myles can’t be played off the floor defensively and doesn’t allow opponents to pack the paint offensively to prevent LeBron James and Anthony Davis from getting to the rim.
Finally, landing the 6′ 11,” 250 lb Turner solves the problem of Anthony Davis preferring to play most of his minutes at power forward to avoid the physical banging and injury risks that inevitably come from playing center. Pairing the 24-year old Turner with the 27-year old Davis also solidifies the Lakers’ starting front court for the next decade and helps to extend their championship window well past the eventual end of LeBron James career.
While giving up Harrell, Kuzma, and Horton-Tucker is a huge price to pay, the 24-year old 6′ 11,” 250 lb Turner has the potential to transform the Los Angeles Lakers from a one time champion into the NBA’s next dynasty.
WHY THE TRADE IS A WIN FOR THE PACERS!
Indiana’s experiment under new coach Nate Bjorkgren to play 6′ 11,” 240 lb Domantas Sabonis and 6′ 11,” 250 lb Myles Turner together is not working as the 15–18 Pacers have now lost 4 straight and fallen to 9th in the East.
While the Pacers won 4 of their first 5 games with Sabonis and Turner playing together, it’s become increasingly obvious two bigs front court has been a failure and they need to move Sabonis to center and trade Turner. The following chart using stats from NBA.com shows how the offensive, defensive, and net ratings of the Sabonis and Turner 2-player lineups and the Indiana Pacers as a team have declined each month this season.
Since Sabonis is the Pacers’ franchise player and Turner’s contract too expensive for a reserve, the Pacers would be smart to trade him now for multiple players who can provide them needed scoring and bench depth. With LeVert and Warren expected back sometime this season, the Pacers aren’t ready to tank. They just need to turn Turner into two or three players who fit better with their core of Sabonis, Brogdon, LeVert, and Warren.
The talented package of Harrell, Kuzma, and Horton-Tucker from the Lakers could be just what the Pacers need. Montrezl Harrell could be the instant offense small ball center they need when Domantas Sabonis rests. Kyle Kuzma could step right in and give their offense and defense a boost as starting power forward and 20-year old Talen Horton-Tucker is the wild card in the trade with his legitimate potential to become a future superstar.
A Pacers’ roster with Brogdon, LeVert, Warren, Kuzma, and Sabonis starting and Holiday, McDermott, McConnell, Harrell, and Lamb coming off the bench would clearly be a better, more diverse, and deeper playoff team.
It’s no secret that I’ve coveted Myles Turner as the perfect modern center to play alongside Anthony Davis. This is obviously not my first proposed Lakers trade for the Pacers’ center.
I was disappointed when Pacers new head coach Nate Bjorkgren found early success playing Sabonis and Turner together as a twin towers pair of 6′, 11″ 240 and 250 lb centers.
But the worm has turned and the stats clearly show that the Pacers’ experiment of playing the two centers together is a bust. It’s just a matter of time before Indiana has to face the music and look to trade Turner, which is where the Lakers have a chance to score the perfect modern center to complement Anthony Davis.
Turner leads the league in blocked shots, has the size to handle bigs like Jokic and Embiid, and has the quickness and mobility to be a great fit in the Lakers aggressive trapping and rotating defense.
The idea of a Turner-Davis front court starting and closing halves and games would redefine what is a ‘Death Lineup’ and essentially put a lid on the basket when the two of them were on the court together.
Finally, locking up the Lakers’ front court of the future with the 24-year old Turner and the 27-year old Davis is worth whatever price the Lakers have to pay. I would even include Alex Caruso if necessary to pull of the trade but I think the package of Harrell, Kuzma, and THT is a fair offer. Trade machine says Pacers benefit with 3 more wins.
Lakers’ depth chart after the trade:
PG: Schroder, Caruso, Open
SG: KCP, Matthews, Open
SF: LeBron, McKinney, Open
PF: Davis, Morris, Dudley
CE: Turner, Gasol, Jones
Three spots open for the buyout or trade market:
Maybe IT, Ellington, and Ariza?
Let me know what you think? Thanks.
I would make the trade w/o Caruso. I have issues trading guys away that close down games for us, Caruso is on that list. If possible I’d switch KCP for Kuz but that’s unlikely. Basically I’m either for keeping Kuz and including Caruso along w/KCP (guard glut for Indy tho) or the trade w/o acfresh21
I think Harrell, Kuzma, and THT is a great deal for the Pacers. The trade machine gives them 3 more wins. And the pieces are great fits for their roster. Don’t need Caruso. That was more my way of saying I love Turner’s fit on the Lakers next to LeBron and AD.
Now I might sway Caruso for Devonte Graham to get a starting lineup of:
Schroder
Graham
James
Davis
Turner
Dramatically improved rim protection and 3-point shooting.
Considering how KCP and West have played, I would probably start Caruso with Schroder as the backcourt to go with the LeBron, AD, Turner front court. That would be a great defensive lineup.
Schroder
Caruso
James
Davis
Turner
The main attraction of trading for Myles Turner is his fit alongside Anthony Davis and LeBron James. In fact, I’d even go further by saying there may not be a better fit alongside Davis and James in the entire league than Myles Turner for the following reaons:
1. His rim protection as shown by his shot blocks.
2. His mobility to defend out of the paint as shown by his steals.
3. His offensive ability to stretch defenses with 3-point shoting.
4. HIs offensive ability to dunk off lobs and rebounds.
5. His age at 24 is a perfect match with Anthony Davis
6. His 2.5 years remaining on his contract for $18 million/year.
Is there any other center who you think would be a better target for the Lakers to pursue?
I like Turner as well. Not giving up Harrell, Kuz and THT. Sub in KCP for Kuz, he’s what we thought he was, average at best. Still doesn’t give us a 3 shooter.
Need to add TJ McConnell and Dougie “McBuckets” in that trade LakerTom.
Turner-McConnell-McDermott for Dennis-Kuzma-THT-Caruso-Gasol works in the Trade Machine
LOL. That may work in the trade machine but that’s too much change for even me. It’s like a second trade of McConnell and McDermott for Shroder, Caruso, and Gasol. That’s way too much to give up for a pair of McRole players. This must be a joke, right? Leaves us with only 1 center. Original trade is a fair deal for both side. This version is a gift for the Pacers.
LakerTom hacked Gerald’s account! lol
lol