Myles Turner – Lakers ought to take ‘arduous look’ at potential commerce with Pacers

Though the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers stepped away from commerce talks shortly earlier than coaching camp that concerned Russell Westbrook and draft capital going to Indiana for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, the Pacers heart says it is a deal that may very well be value revisiting.

“If I am the Lakers, I take a really arduous take a look at this with the place that you just’re in,” Turner stated, responding to a query in regards to the potential swap as a visitor on ESPN’s The Woj Pod with Adrian Wojnarowski. “I do know what I can present for a crew — my management, my shot-blocking, my 3-point capability and simply my capability to make performs on the market on the ground.

“And I take a really lengthy take a look at it. However so far as pulling the set off, I receives a commission to shoot. I am not paid to make these calls, so I could not reply that.”

The Lakers have been reluctant to incorporate each their future first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 to improve the present roster with the hope of placing LeBron James and Anthony Davis again in place to contend for a championship.

“Everyone knows picks are so beneficial on this league, and somebody like myself, I am heading into the final yr of my deal and also you need to be sure you’re getting a return on your property,” Turner added.

Turner, a 26-year-old heart in his eighth season with Indiana, has profession averages of 12.7 factors, 6.7 rebounds and a pair of.3 blocks per recreation, whereas capturing 34.9% from 3. Hield, a former shopper of Lakers vice chairman of basketball operations and basic supervisor Rob Pelinka throughout Pelinka’s days as a participant agent, has linked on 43% of his exterior pictures in seven seasons with New Orleans, Sacramento and Indiana.

Even with a 13-for-30 exhibiting from the surface of their first win of the season on Sunday, L.A. nonetheless ranks useless final within the league in 3-point capturing at 26.6% as a crew. And with solely function gamers obtainable to play heart, Damian Jones and Wenyen Gabriel, Anthony Davis has been tasked to play the beginning 5, despite the fact that he’s battling decrease again ache and has traditionally most well-liked the 4.

Wojnarowski reported earlier this month that the Lakers plan to reassess the roster after roughly 20 video games and will look to reengage in commerce talks round Thanksgiving.

Turner, who has performed his total profession in small-market Indianapolis, stated becoming a member of a marquee crew just like the Lakers could be interesting.

“I simply really feel like right here within the Midwest we do not get the love that I believe we deserve. … It would not get taken on the nationwide degree,” Turner stated. “You’re beneath the microscope on the market on the West. If you find yourself doing dangerous, you are going to hear about it. If you find yourself doing nice, you’ll get lots of love, particularly with the love that the Lakers get.

“I believe that one other facet that’s [appealing is] enjoying with greatness and enjoying beneath LeBron. I really feel like he calls for a sure degree of excellency, particularly at this level of his profession. It is simply a kind of issues; when you’re on the market, you bought to carry out. Individuals are going to count on you to go on the market and maintain on to that legacy that the Lakers have constructed over time.”

Indiana has began the season 3-4. The Lakers are 1-5.