Lakers’ best-case starting 5 in 2022-23 without Kyrie Irving

Lakers’ best-case center: Myles Turner

Myles Turner is one of the most interesting players in the league. Three years ago he was viewed as one of the better centers in the league and when he was put on the trade market it was assumed that he would get a decent return for the Indiana Pacers.

However, Turner has been on the trade market for so long and Indiana has not made a move, indicating that he is not that valuable as a trade asset. He is on an expiring contract now and is not going to warrant a big return (more on that later, though).

Turner definitely is not a perfect center and there are areas of his game that you can dissect when it comes to how he would fit on the Lakers. That being said, there is also reason to believe that he would play better in Los Angeles and maximize his abilities.

Having Anthony Davis in the front court is massive for Turner on both ends of the floor. Defensively, Turner can lean on Davis a bit and his ability to defend outside of the paint, which is something that Turner struggles with.

Offensively, having an elite presence near the rim is only going to help the floor spacing for Turner, who can really capitalize on his long-range game as a stretch five. If Turner is coming to Los Angeles then there is obviously going to be another player from the Indiana Pacers that is going to come with him…