The Lakers might have a shot at landing one of the NBA’s best shot-blockers, as the Indiana Pacers are reportedly considering trading Myles Turner before the February 6 deadline.
Turner’s been a defensive force this season, swatting away 79 shots – good for fifth-best in the league. He’s also showing he can score, hitting a career-best 39.6% from three-point range while putting up 15.4 points per game.
“If Myles Turner is available I think if you’re the Lakers you have to go get him,” says The Athletic’s Jovan Buha. “He just fits perfectly next to A.D. on both sides of the floor.”
The catch? It’s all about money.
Turner’s wrapping up a two-year, $58 million deal with the Pacers, and his contract situation is making things complicated in Indiana. Even though the Pacers aren’t usually sellers at the trade deadline, this might be different.
“Indiana is not really a team that tanks or looks to sell off players,” Buha explained on his podcast. “But that could be an exception just based on his contract situation.”
The 28-year-old center would be a perfect fit for the Lakers, who’ve been desperately searching for a “tough, physical, defensive-minded center” to take some pressure off Anthony Davis.
Through 41 games this season, Turner’s been putting up solid numbers:
– 15.4 points per game
– 7.0 rebounds
– 1.9 blocks
– 48.3% shooting from the floor
– 73.8% from the free throw line
The Pacers aren’t exactly struggling – they’re sitting pretty at fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 24-20 record, just two games behind the Milwaukee Bucks.
That’s what makes this situation tricky. Indiana might not want to break up a winning team, unless someone makes them an offer they can’t refuse.
But for the Lakers? Turner might be worth opening up the checkbook for.
