The Indiana Pacers have been playing some spirited, competitive basketball out of the gates of the 2022-23 NBA season. After getting off to a 1-4 start, they have won two games in a row, defeating the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.
One of the key components of that victory over the Wizards was the performance of center Myles Turner. Turner has already missed some games this season because of an incident during warmups in the season opener when he twisted his ankle after accidentally stepping on a ball boy’s foot.
Injuries have been an issue for Turner and he missed the first four games of the season as a result. His return against the Chicago Bulls, which was a loss, was an ugly performance but he quickly turned things around against the Wizards.
In that game, Turner played 32 minutes, scoring 27 points as he shot 7-of-14 from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range. He also went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line for the full Turner offensive experience. To boot, he also chipped in two assists.
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In the paint is where his presence was most felt. Turner grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked five shots as the Wizards had no answer for him on the interior. Performances like that are only going to make his value go up as Turner is widely expected to be traded ahead of the deadline in February.
One of the teams that have been courting Turner is the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles is desperate to balance out their rotation and the floor spacing and shot-blocking big man would be a perfect fit for their scheme. However, the asking price has been higher than what the Lakers are comfortable paying, as Indiana is seeking two first-round picks.
During a recent appearance on “The Woj Pod,” Turner was asked if he were the Lakers, would he trade two picks for him? He offered a calculated response and knows what he could offer a team on the court.
“If I’m the Lakers I take a hard look at this with the position that they’re in. I know what I can provide for a team.”
Adding Turner to the lineup would enable Anthony Davis to play more power forward, which he prefers doing. Already possessing a stout defense, the Lakers’ offense would also see improvements given the skill set that Turner possesses.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Rob Pelinka and the front office have to think long and hard about this. There are only so many more chances they will have to compete with LeBron James on the team. You cannot afford to waste another season with an underwhelming roster around he and Davis that will struggle to make even the postseason, let alone contend.
