Would the trade make sense for the Los Angeles Lakers?
The Lakers are just one year removed from winning the NBA title, but with LeBron James not getting any younger, their window to win with him at the helm is gradually closing. Provided that, Los Angeles knows that they can’t be satisfied with what they currently have on the roster. Also, the Lakers have shown a stubbornness to make Anthony Davis play the power forward position due to Davis’s preference to not play at the five.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: Lakers, Celtics among teams interested in trade for Pacers’ Myles Turner
Acquiring Myles Turner would give the Lakers a chance to bolster their front court, giving them a defensive-oriented big. During the 2020-2021 season, opposing teams had an offensive rating of 115 when Turner was off of the court, compared to a 110.4 offensive rating when he’s on the court. That goes to show that his presence in the paint is enough to drastically change a defense.
Besides his ability to protect the paint and block shots — he’s led the league twice in blocked shots per game, including in 2020-2021 — Turner is a modern big that is capable of stretching the floor. After coming into the league as an inside scorer, Turner has averaged 3.3 three-point attempts per game in the past four seasons, making a modest 35.5 percent of them.
While losing Kuzma and Harrell would hurt their bench, adding Turner would give the Lakers a formidable player to pair with Davis at the four and five.
