Lakers’ best-case starting 5 in 2022-23 without Kyrie Irving
By Jason Reed
Lakers’ best-case shooting guard: Buddy Hield
If you have followed any of the Russell Westbrook/Kyrie Irving speculation over the last few months then you know that the most-talked-about backup plan for the Lakers is a Buddy Hield/Myles Turner package.
The Pacers reportedly already turned down an offer from the Lakers that included Westbrook and a future first-round pick for Turner and Hield. With neither Turner and Hield having much trade value, the Lakers could wait it out and see if they can get the price down to one pick or maybe a pick and a protected pick.
However, if it ultimately boils down to it, the Lakers likely would be willing to trade two first-round picks. While that is a lot just to get off Westbrook for Hield and Turner, the Lakers do have more future draft picks than advertised, so it is not completely mortgaging the future.
Hield, like Turner, has his flaws as a player as he is not someone who is going to play good defense in LA. However, Hield is one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the league and he will only get better with LeBron James facilitating.
The Lakers desperately need three-point shooting and getting Hield could pretty much be like getting a better version of Malik Monk. Add Turner to the mix with Hield and suddenly the Lakers actually have to be respected from beyond the arc.