The Los Angeles Lakers‘ front office has done well to inject more youth into their roster this offseason, but the changes have been nowhere near significant enough to suggest the team can compete in the loaded Western Conference.
The first order of business is adding more shooting, but that’s easier said than done as Russell Westbrook’s contract has capsized LA’s financial flexibility.
A package including the Pacers’ Buddy Hield and Myles Turner would go a long way towards rectifying the Lakers’ shooting woes, but a trade doesn’t appear realistic unless LA shows its desperation and gives Indiana a haul it can’t rebuff.
Hield and Turner wouldn’t do much to improve the Lakers’ title hopes, but just offloading Westbrook’s contract would make the trade a huge win, even if Turner’s fit on the Lakers is questionable at best.
Then again, it wouldn’t hurt adding another rim protector behind Anthony Davis, who hasn’t played more than 70 games since 2017-18.
As a two-time block champ, Turner is one of the best defensive centers in the NBA. However, that didn’t stop him from getting schooled by a little kid at his camp over the weekend.
https://twitter.com/alexgoldennba/status/1553915960305848321?s=21&t=yjjDm7_O-9DyU46d7nADWg
Potential Lakers trade target Myles Turner got owned by a kid at his basketball camp.
We’ve seen enough, sign this kid to a 10-day contract ASAP! The handles are one thing, but the fact he had the awareness to get off a quick-release jumper before Turner could recover and swat him suggests this little baller has a bright future ahead of him.
As for Turner, it kind of looked like he wasn’t letting his camper off easy. The Pacers big man was in a proper defensive stance and slid his feet pretty aggressively. Perhaps he got a little too block-happy and bit at the first pump fake.
We’ve all seen NBA players pull off monstrous blocks on kids at basketball camps. It’s all in good fun, obviously, but Turner seemingly didn’t have the patience to wait for his moment and this camper made him pay the price. Unless, of course, he played it off as if he was actually trying on defense and let the kid sneak one past him.
If that’s the case, then credit to Turner, because this is a moment this little basketball savant isn’t going to forget anytime soon.
https://twitter.com/Original_Turner/status/1553531840597827584
It’s anyone’s guess, but Turner will need to show better footwork against ball-handlers if he’s traded to the Lakers. As elite as he is defending the paint, teams will look to isolate him in the pick-and-roll and Turner will have to hold his own in those situations if Davis is resting on the bench.
Luckily for Turner, he’ll likely be retired by the time this kid is in the NBA.
Ranking the 4 most-likely options for the Lakers last roster spot
The Los Angeles Lakers have multiple directions to go for the final roster spot. Here are the four most-likely options ranked.