The Los Angeles Lakers are going to be one of the most interesting teams to follow in the offseason, primarily due to their clear-cut goals concerning roster construction. While many players have been linked to the Purple and Gold, a few names have stood out in the big man department, particularly Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner.
Unfortunately, the Lakers will not have the necessary cap space required to sign Turner in free agency, as per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
The Pacers center will be entering the free agent market at the end of this season. Coming off a two-year, $40.9 million deal, Turner will be looking to sign a much bigger contract, especially after the season he has had.
The 29-year-old averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game in the regular season with Indiana. As a mobile big man, Turner also has incredible rim-protecting instincts and a very reliable shot from beyond the arc.
As a big man who can stretch the floor and also act as a rim protector, Turner appears to be the ideal player for the Lakers. Unfortunately, the Purple and Gold are already over the cap and have hardly any space before they hit the first luxury tax apron.
In light of this, the Lakers may not be able to acquire Turner as a free agent. However, they can still pursue the big man via trade, although this poses a much more challenging route.
The Lakers will need to formulate a hefty trade package that can sway the Pacers into considering a deal for their center. Los Angeles does have some assets that they can use as part of this trade.
Marks floated the idea of utilizing the 2031 first-round pick, the five pick swaps, Dalton Knecht, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Gabe Vincent as chips in this trade. With this in mind, the Lakers could present a package involving any of these combinations.
Proposed Trade Details:
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Myles Turner
Indiana Pacers receive: Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, 2031 first-round pick
A similarly constructed deal would see Hachimura replaced by Finney-Smith, with another pick swap being added to sweeten the pot. However, moving Knecht appears to be the only way to make the money work for both teams.
The Pacers will also have to deal with cap issues heading into the offseason. Indiana is currently $6.9 million away from the first luxury tax apron. With Turner not even factoring into their current cap figures, the team will have a tough time figuring out how to bring their center back next season.
It is more likely that the Pacers will shed some salary to create space to sign Turner. The big man has been vital to their run through the postseason. Coming up big against the Cleveland Cavaliers as well, the Pacers’ big man is recording an average of 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game.
With a 2-0 lead for the series, Indiana is likely to ride this postseason out before deciding what their stance on Turner will be.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are likely to set their sights on more realistic targets in the offseason. With players such as Nic Claxton emerging as a right fit given the circumstances, the Purple and Gold may opt to make some trades to acquire the Nets center instead.
