Los Angeles Lakers Receive: C Myles Turner
Indiana Pacers Receive: F Kyle Kuzma, 2021 First-Round Pick (No. 22), 2027 First-Round Pick (Lottery Protected)
In this deal, the Lakers upgrade their center position by landing the versatile Myles Turner. The Indiana Pacers decide to split up their frontcourt pairing of Domantas Sabonis and Turner, something Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reports they are ready to do.
It has been a long time coming, as the Pacers also offered Turner to the Boston Celtics last year, but to no avail. This time around, they can find a trade partner in the Lakers.
Indiana will now have the opportunity to fully embrace Sabonis as their big man in the middle. The pairing with two bigs was sometimes clunky in Indiana, but virtually all of Sabonis’ minutes will now come at center, not power forward.
Taking over some of the minutes at power forward will be Kyle Kuzma, who has been excellent in his career when given starter minutes. He averages 18.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists with a .452/.340/.738 shooting split.
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It is a role Kuzma excelled at earlier in his career and when filling in for Anthony Davis whenever he was sidelined. He gives Indiana some insurance for a scoring wing in case T.J. Warren is unable to return to form or Doug McDermott departs in free agency.
The first-round draft picks give Indiana more capital to swing another trade. They can package No. 22 with their pick, No. 13, in hopes of moving up in this year’s draft order. Or, they have two more assets now in their pursuit of a player such as Ben Simmons.
