The Los Angeles Lakers are ready to bounce back next season with their Big 3 healthy and good to go. After a disappointing 2021/22 NBA season, the Purple and Gold made some changes to the coaching staff while keeping Russell Westbrook on the roster.
These goods could work for the Californians, but they aren’t stopping there. After missing out on big opportunities the last offseason, the Lakers’ front office is trying to make things right this time and a recent report suggests they are interested in an old target.
According to Matt Moore of Action Network, Buddy Hield is once again on the Lakers’ radar, but the sharpshooter isn’t a player that the Indiana Pacers are currently shopping. Instead, they are engaging in talks about Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner.
As Indiana continues to take calls for Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner, the Lakers have circled back to a familiar target: Buddy Hield.
Hield was heavily linked with a move to Crypto.com Arena last year before the Lakers decided to pursue Russell Westbrook, missing out on Hield and other figures like DeMar DeRozan. Hield was eventually dealt to the Pacers in the infamous trade that sent Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana.
Now, he could be on the move again, as the Pacers aren’t interested in contending right now. They know they have a good group of young players, led by Haliburton, and getting rid of some veterans is a big task for them right now. Perhaps this situation could make things easy for the Lakers, but it’s unclear what players they would send to Indy in exchange for Hield.
If they can pull this off, things could go a little better for them next season, but it won’t solve the problems they had last campaign. Still, perhaps the arrival of Darvin Ham works wonders for the team and every piece understands the assignment, making the Lakers a threat in the Western Conference.
