Lakers fans begging for Pacers trade during preseason (for a new reason)
By Mike Luciano
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the few teams in the NBA who have the infrastructure in place to pull off a huge trade this close to when the season starts. Considering the quality that both Buddy Hield and Myles Turner have shown in the last few seasons, they have been atop this fanbase’s list for some time.
The Indiana Pacers could, the theory, absorb Russell Westbrook’s albatross contract and some first-round picks if they wanted to part with Hield and Turner out of a desire to lean into tanking. This trade almost came to fruition, but Rob Pelinka pulled out at the last minute.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis will give this team a fighting chance this season, but this team isn’t going to go anywhere without a bench. Considering how the preseason has been somewhat encouraging for many of LA’s tertiary scorers, the desire to accept the Hield-Turner trade is getting revved up once again.
Kendrick Nunn appears to be healthy after last year’s injury woes, Austin Reaves is continuing to get better, and Dennis Schroder is better than NBA Twitter would lead you to believe. Patrick Beverley will help the defense.
If the stars stay healthy and veterans like Lonnie Walker hit their stride, getting Hield and Turner could complete this lineup.
Given that Nunn's healthy & looking good, Reaves is clearly ready for a breakout year, Schröder was added as depth, & the scheme is looking this legit, I 100% think that Pacers trade makes this team a contender if healthy.
— Cranjis McBasketball (@Tim_NBA) October 6, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers fans want to trade for Buddy Hield, Myles Turner.
Even though Turner comes with his fair share of imperfections as a player, the Lakers would be foolish to pass on a center with his quality and experience at this point in the preseason. Imagine him in the post rather than Damian Jones or Thomas Bryant off an injury.
Hield has had the misfortune of being stuck on lousy Kings and Pacers reams for his entire career, but he remains a quality shooter and scorer that has been dying for the chance to flex his talents on a playoff team. The Lakers might be willing to oblige if they can pull off a trade.
Westbrook’s box score numbers might be more impressive than either of these two, but even the biggest Russ stans would have to admit that Hield’s shooting and Turner’s pick-and-pop ability will make them much better fits for an offense built almost entirely around the exploits of James and Davis.
The Lakers 'seriously considered' sending Russell Westbrook and their two unprotected first-round picks (2027 and 2029) to the Pacers for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, per @ShamsCharania, @jovanbuha and @sam_amick
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 3, 2022
Rob Pelinka chose to "remain patient" to see how L.A. jells pic.twitter.com/fa5KFg4X6m
The Lakers may not find it possible to trade for Hield and Turner in the next few days, but a Pacers team that will be closer to the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes than a postseason spot would do well to offload some of their best players in exchange for LA’s picks.
