The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t the only team that has been interested in Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner.
The Pacers have expressed an interest in letting him go for the right price, and the price for the Lakers has reportedly been Russell Westbrook plus two future first-round draft picks for both Turner and sharpshooter Buddy Hield.
Los Angeles hasn’t said yes, at least not yet, apparently because it doesn’t believe Turner and Hield would move the needle enough.
Now, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the Lakers’ Crypto.com Arena co-tenants, the Los Angeles Clippers may make a move for the shot-blocking center.
Via Bleacher Report:
“Much has been made of the perceived trade stalemate between the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers, but the Los Angeles Clippers may change the conversation entirely.
“According to multiple sources, the Clippers have discussed targeting Myles Turner in the market.”
The Clippers may need a legitimate center more than the Lakers do. Paul George and crew only have one serviceable 5 on their roster, Ivica Zubac, and he is their only rotation player who is taller than 6-foot-8.
Could the Clippers have an ulterior motive?
As much as the Clippers (8-7) could use another reliable center to resurrect their championship hopes, Pincus surmised the Clippers, as well as the Pacers, may have another motive on their minds.
“The Lakers (3-10) have long discussed sending Russell Westbrook to the Pacers for Buddy Hield and Turner. The Pacers have been adamant that a deal only makes sense if it includes two first-round picks from L.A. (likely 2027 and 2029). To date, the Lakers haven’t been willing to make that commitment.
“Could the Pacers be using the Clippers to try to pressure the Lakers into a deal for both firsts? One source believes Indiana has enough skepticism to move on from the Lakers.”
As much as Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has been criticized for some of the moves he has made, he has shown remarkable discipline and posture ever since Westbrook was first made available in trade offers almost a calendar year ago.
However, if his 3-10 team doesn’t start stringing together wins soon, he may feel more pressure to do something sooner than later.
