Myles Turner – Lakers ought to take ‘laborious 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 middle says it is a deal that may very well be price revisiting.

“If I am the Lakers, I take a really laborious take a look at this with the place that you just’re in,” Turner mentioned, 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 capacity and simply my capacity 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 useful on this league, and somebody like myself, I am heading into the final 12 months of my deal and also you wish to be sure you’re getting a return to your property,” Turner added.

Turner, a 26-year-old middle 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 taking pictures 34.9% from 3. Hield, a former shopper of Lakers vp of basketball operations and common supervisor Rob Pelinka throughout Pelinka’s days as a participant agent, has related on 43% of his outdoors pictures in seven seasons with New Orleans, Sacramento and Indiana.

Even with a 13-for-30 exhibiting from the skin of their first win of the season on Sunday, L.A. nonetheless ranks useless final within the league in 3-point taking pictures at 26.6% as a crew. And with solely position gamers out there to play middle, 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, mentioned becoming a member of a marquee crew just like the Lakers can be interesting.

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

“I believe that one other side that’s [appealing is] taking part in with greatness and taking part in 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 type of issues; when you’re on the market, you bought to carry out. Persons are going to anticipate 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.