The Los Angeles Lakers have been searching far and wide for a trade target who can help them take the next step toward contending. They're off to a great start, as they're already reaping the benefits of acquiring 3-and-D specialist Dorian Finney-Smith.
While the Lakers' defense has admittedly taken a step forward since Finney-Smith arrived on the scene, there's a void remaining in the rotation—one Anthony Davis has now publicly acknowledged.
Davis spoke to Rob Pelinka behind closed doors in 2023 and 2024 about his interest in spending more time at power forward. That, of course, would require Los Angeles to make a trade for a starting-caliber or at least high-level backup at center.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the perfect trade target may have finally emerged as a viable option: Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner.
"I heard from a league source that Indiana might be open to trading Myles Turner. That was not in direct relation to the Lakers. It was kind of just talking trade market, which guys are available and going through various players."
It remains unclear if Los Angeles is, in fact, interested in acquiring Turner, but there's an intriguing level of talent and interior upside to explore.
Lakers can become instant contenders with Myles Turner
Turner is the player the Lakers have been waiting to go all-in on. There are no questions about his immediate ability to provide strong postseason minutes, nor are there concerns about whether or not he's over the hill. He's smack dab in the middle of his prime at 28 years of age.
Turner is playing on an expiring $19,928,500 contract, however, and the Pacers appear to be willing to explore trades if they lose confidence in their ability or desire to re-sign him.
The Lakers could put together an interesting trade package, likely centering around Rui Hachimura, a future first-round draft pick, and up-and-comer Jalen Hood-Schifino. It's unclear if that would be enough to entice the Pacers, but it could at least bring them to the negotiating table for further discussions.
If Los Angeles were able to pull off a trade for Turner, they'd be giving Davis everything he's requested and then some—and simultaneously creating a potentially elite defense.
The biggest problem facing the Lakers on defense is the lack of support for Davis along the interior. Considering he plays a free-roaming role that asks him to defend the perimeter, interior, and midrange areas alike, that lack of adequate help down low has resulted in Los Angeles ranking 27th in points allowed in the paint.
Turner, meanwhile, is one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA, averaging 2.0 swats per game and forcing opponents to shoot 6.7 percent worse within six feet of the rim when he's the primary defender.
Turner is also an excellent floor-spacer, averaging 15.4 points and 2.0 three-point field goals made on 39.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc. That two-way skill set would open the floor and enable Los Angeles to utilize two-big sets deep into the playoffs.
The asking price will determine the validity of the Lakers' hypothetical pursuit of Turner, but there's no way around how perfectly he'd fit alongside Davis.