Who will trade Indiana Pacers center Turner? The Lakers are naturally one of the teams interested in Turner, and according to the famous ShamsCharania, the Lakers, The Lone Rangers, Knicks and Hornets are all interested in Turner. While the Lakers don't have as many trading assets, they can still offer a convincing offer for pacers, and the US media also lists the perfect trading options.
The Lakers get: Turner
The Pacers got: Tucker, Nunn, 2027 first-round picks
The biggest question about whether the Lakers will strike a deal is whether they can trade another "big fish." The Lakers are interested in trading Grant of the Detroit Pistons, who is more comprehensive and healthier than Turner. However, Turner could also help the Lakers, with a huge gap in their frontcourt. The thick-browed brother is injured and will miss more time before returning to the field. Howard is nothing more than a reliable substitute center, and Jordan Jr. is basically a burden.
The Lakers have found momentum to abandon the center altogether, and James switched to the No. 5 position. The Dec. 28 game against the Houston Rockets marked their move to a centerless lineup. According to the NBA's official website, since then, the Lakers' offensive efficiency ranks first (121 points per 100 rounds) and fifth in net efficiency (+7.7 points per 100 rounds).
This season, without Howard or Jordan Jr., the Lakers have scored as high as +10.2 on the court when James, Thick Brow and Westbrook are on the court at the same time. James also continued to explode during that time, averaging 33.7 points per game, shooting 55.8 percent from the field, shooting well from the field and offensive firepower.
However, the Lakers' defense has been behind in these two weeks, and their defensive efficiency is 113.2, ranking 24th in the NBA. Getting the right center can help them find a better balance and reduce the pressure on the thick-browed guy when he returns.
Turner is the perfect no. 5 spot the Lakers need, and over the course of his career, Turner has shot 35.1 percent from three-point range. Turner is a perennial candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, leading the NBA in blocks per game, and when he's on the floor, he keeps his shots from inside his opponent's penalty area at 61.6 percent.
The Lakers made sense for the deal, but it also made sense for the Pacers. The Pacers won't make substantial progress any time soon, with they trailing the 10th seed in the East five-game, 26-15. The fit between Turner and All-Star Player Sabonis Jr. was always a bit clumsy. The Pacers' roster has only seven players aged 25 or under.
Tucker has shown potential star potential, and Tucker is a very creative player who combines skill and brute force perfectly. When Tucker is at full strength, he's extremely critical of Keelon, and he's already a great defender, especially against defenders, who can also use his 7-foot arm span to extend his defensive range.
Despite entering his third NBA season, Tucker just turned 21 in late November and he has enough talent to let the Pacers take risks on him. The jump shot was tucker's biggest problem at this stage of his career (so far, his career three-point shooting percentage is 27 percent), but there are countless examples of players struggling to be consistent shooters. Nunn is also a good NBA guard who hasn't played this season due to a foot injury, but he can also help the Pacers' backcourt, and his contract is crucial to helping close the deal.
Such a deal makes sense for both parties, but both sides may do better. The Lakers won't trade first-round picks until 2027. The Pacers would definitely want something earlier on Grant's wish list for the Lakers, which seems higher than Turner. The Lakers may not think Turner is a player worth giving up Tucker, after all, in last year's trade deadline, they refused to trade Tucker for Lowry.
It's not an easy task for either team, but it's good for both sides if they're interested in closing the deal. Turner may soon transfer, and the Lakers are likely to acquire his team.
(Text/Drunken Floating Life)