The Indiana Pacers may be ready to move on from Myles Turner. And the Lakers would be a smart landing spot.
Amid their lackluster start to the 2024-25 NBA season, the Indiana Pacers have heard their name come up a fair bit in the NBA rumor mill. One would imagine that no stone goes unturned between now and the NBA Trade Deadline on Feb. 6.
At a record of 15-15, the Pacers look far removed from a team that was in the Eastern Conference Finals last season. However, there should be an opportunity for Indiana to bolster the roster in hopes of competing in a top-heavy conference.
Myles Turner surprisingly had his name surface among a list of trade candidates for the Pacers before this year’s deadline. As soon as one remembers that Turner is in the final year of his contract, it starts making a little more sense.
Myles Turner And LeBron James Lakers
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There has been no indication that Turner is unhappy in Indiana. On the flip side of that, there may be some discomfort with letting him test the waters of free agency in the 2025 offseason.
If the Pacers front office does not want to take that risk, there should be a way to ensure their future moving forward. With that in consideration, the following mock trade could offer a long-term answer for Indiana’s starting center position.
Indiana Pacers acquire: Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler.
Los Angeles Lakers acquire: Myles Turner.
Utah Jazz acquire: D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2029 unprotected first-round pick (via LAL), 2025 second-round pick (via LAL), 2027 second-round pick (via LAL), 2031 second-round pick via LAL.
The Lakers have been linked to Turner in the past. It should not surprise anyone to work themselves back into the mix, should he be available.
The Jazz would be the facilitator of the trade here. Getting into the fold allows them to move off Clarkson and recoup a handful of draft capital, including a valuable unprotected pick from the Lakers in 2029.
The appeal of this trade for the Pacers should not be lost on anyone. Clarkson gives them some good scoring punch off the bench. However, the main prize is locking down a capable defensive anchor at center with the addition of Kessler.
The current Jazz big man is still on his rookie deal. This would mean that the Pacers receive a cheap, long-term starting option that they could eventually lock down on an extension for the foreseeable future. That should be an inviting thought for Indiana.