After acquiring forward Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets and sending guard D’Angelo Russell to the team, the Los Angeles Lakers may have made their final trade before the February 6 trade deadline.
This is because the Lakers considered Russell to be their most expendable asset. While they have other tradable contracts, such as Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt, the value of these players has been affected more by injuries than by talent. The Lakers remain hopeful that both players can contribute this season.
The team is not looking to move them just to shed salary, especially since they would need to attach assets in order to bring in other players.
“They’re not just making moves for the sake of it,” an Eastern Conference GM told Heavy. “They were willing to move Russell, but now, they’ll only act if it makes them clearly better. There’s not much out there that improves them.”
Myles Turner Performing Well for Pacers
One player that could provide an upgrade over what the Lakers have is Myles Turner, the Indiana Pacers center. Turner, a free agent at season’s end, has shown interest as a potential trade target, but the Pacers’ strong play (16-5 in their last 21 games) and Turner’s contribution (15.6 points, 48.6% shooting, 40.2% from three) has made the Pacers reconsider any trade plans.
“Do the Pacers want to make a push this season or keep building for the future?” the GM said. “The asking price has gone up. I don’t think you’d need two first-round picks, but a first-rounder and a couple of second-rounders might be needed.”
For the Lakers, another obstacle is that they’d have to part with a valuable player, forward Rui Hachimura, to make a deal for Turner work, a move they’d prefer to avoid.
Lakers’ Need for a Center Next to Anthony Davis
Ultimately, the Lakers are focused on building around Anthony Davis, and they are hoping his abdominal injury heals soon. When Davis is back at full strength, the team may owe it to him to add a solid big man next to him, something they haven’t had since his first season with the Lakers when JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard played alongside him.
Davis prefers to play power forward, but the Lakers have made only half-hearted attempts to find a true center to pair with him. Trading for Turner could address that need.
A potential deal could look like this: Lakers receive Myles Turner, and the Pacers get Rui Hachimura, Christian Wood, a 2029 first-round pick, and two second-round picks from 2025 (one from the Clippers).
If the Lakers are to make a move, it’s likely that Hachimura would be the player sent out, but only in exchange for a major center upgrade.
“He would be a game-changer for them, and there aren’t many game-changers in the frontcourt market,” a Western Conference executive said. “Turner could help bring the best out of AD, improve floor spacing offensively, and add rim protection defensively. I’m just not sure the Lakers would pay the price.”
Sean Deveney is an experienced sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL, and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than 20 years of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney has authored seven nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley Became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney.
