$17 Million Star Lakers Target Won’t Be Traded Anymore

The Los Angeles Lakers were linked to several players in the past few weeks, but one particular target can no longer be traded. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka wanted to trade for Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner. Well, Pacers GM Chad Buchanan said that Turner will be their starting center in the first games of the regular season.

Pacers GM Chad Buchanan said this morning on @1075thefan that Myles Turner will be their starting center on opening night, officially ending the potential Lakers trade talks.

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) September 21, 2022

Turner would’ve been a really good addition for the Lakers. The team wanted to get him this summer, but their plans went down the hill. Bob Kravitz and Shams Charania from The Athletic reported that the Lakers considered sending Russell Westbrook and a first-round pick to the Packers. They were supposed to get Turner and Buddy Hield. Sean Deveney from Heavy reported that the Lakers targeted Turner for a really long time.

Lakers target would’ve been a good target when traded

The Pacers big man didn’t mind joining the Lakers. He would have been a good fit alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook.

“Turner, for his part, has been open to a trade out of Indiana going back two years, and he was expecting to be dealt at last season’s deadline instead of Sabonis,” Deveney reported. “A source with knowledge of the situation told Heavy.com, ‘Of course he would be open to a trade to the Lakers.’”

Turner missed a lot of playing time due to a left foot stress reaction. He saw action in just 42 games with the team, but his foot is great now. The big man averaged 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.3 blocks in his career. LA could use more of that in the upcoming season, but Turner is no longer available for a trade.

The Pacers player is out of the equation now and the Lakers have to switch their focus to other players. Hield, Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, and Bojan Bogdanovic are still available. Pelinka will have to part ways with Westbrook and a few first-rounders to get decent players. It’s a challenging offseason for the team and the front office has to use every asset to make things work.