Why The Los Angeles Lakers Do The Deal
It’s been rumored that the Los Angeles Lakers are considering a trade that would move Russell Westbrook and both of the first-round picks that they’re eligible to deal to the Indiana Pacers in return for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner.
While that’s certainly a better deal on paper, there are a few reasons why this swap with the Mavericks could end up being the smarter move down the line. Firstly, this trade would allow the Lakers to retain one of their movable first-round picks to make another deal down the road.
There’s no guarantee that making either the trade with the Pacers or the Mavs will make Los Angeles true contenders, so they need to have a contingency plan in place to ensure that they have as many chances as they can to field a winning roster around LeBron James during the remainder of his prime.
Secondly, this deal could even play out better on the court, as well. Myles Turner is the most talented player involved in either trade, but he’s struggled to stay healthy throughout his career so far. Pairing him with another oft-injured big in Anthony Davis could prove to be a disastrous course for LA.
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Tim Hardaway does everything that Buddy Hield does except he brings a little more size and defensive versatility although neither sniper is exactly a stopper. Davis Bertans gives LeBron and AD another sniper to space the floor for them, and Dwight Powell can be an impactful defensive center when healthy.
