The Los Angeles Lakers have long been rumored to make a big trade this season as they look to maximize what's left of the LeBron James-Anthony Davis championship window.
One month into the new campaign, the Lakers find themselves sitting under .500 (7-11), thanks largely to a 2-10 start and a host of injuries to key players, with pressure increasing to make changes to the roster.
While they have been linked to a host of players, including Utah's Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson as well as Charlotte's Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward, a deal for Indiana's duo of Myles Turner and Buddy Hield looms as the best fit, but given their reluctance to part ways with first-round picks in 2027 and 2029, there has been little progress.
Any deal the Lakers make would almost certainly involve Russell Westbrook, who, despite improving his play since moving to a bench role, remains an awkward fit on the court next to James and Davis. Westbrook's $47 million salary would also be needed to make any deal possible.
Coming into the year, the Pacers appeared on track for another losing season, but the emergence of Tyrese Haliburton and rookie Bennedict Mathurin has Indiana sitting at fourth in the East (11-8), with Hield and Turner both contributing to their success.
Are the Pacers still willing to part ways with Hield and Turner? As the season rolls on, here's why the Lakers should — and shouldn't — trade for Hield and Turner.
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Why the Lakers should trade with the Pacers
A Westbrook deal for Hield and Turner immediately addresses some of the Lakers' biggest needs, while reinforcing their strengths — mainly their defense.
Despite their up-and-down start to the season, the Lakers have been a fearsome squad on the defensive end, ranking seventh in defensive rating. Adding a player of Turner's caliber would give them a monstrous frontline pairing alongside Davis, who naturally prefers to play at power forward.
This season, Turner is averaging 18.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 57.3 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from 3 on 3.5 attempts per game. More importantly, a move to LA seems to be something Turner would be open to.
MORE: Myles Turner discusses trade rumors, makes case for joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis in LA
“Just playing in the bigger market, I just feel like here in the Midwest we don’t get the love that I think we deserve," Turner told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. "You are under the microscope out there at the West, when you are doing bad you going to hear about it. When you are doing great you are going to get a lot of love, especially with the love that the Lakers get.
“I think that another aspect that is playing with greatness and playing under LeBron, I feel like he demands certain level of excellency, especially at this point of his career. It's just one of those things where you know when you're out there you gotta perform and people are going to expect you to go out there and hold onto that legacy the Lakers have built over the years."
Turner offers the Lakers a defensive anchor that can alleviate some of Davis' responsibilities on that end, allowing them to stagger their lineups and have an elite defensive center on the floor for most of the game while letting Davis interchange between playing at the center position on offense and the forward position on defense.
MORE: Why Anthony Davis should be Lakers' No. 1 option — even next to LeBron
The potential addition of Hield is what could give LA's offense a much-needed jolt.
The Lakers' 3-point shooting woes this season are well-documented. The team currently ranks 28th in offensive rating, 28th in 3-point percentage (31.9 percent), 28th in 3-point attempts (30 per game), and 30th in 3-pointers made (9.6).
Hield is averaging 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three on 9.9 attempts per game.
Adding a high-volume shooter next to LeBron James has proven to be a recipe for success. Of the two potentially available Pacers, Hield's ability to space the floor is higher on their list of priorities.
But is that enough to make them a contender?
Why the Lakers shouldn't trade with the Pacers
Given their reluctance to make a deal through the summer, it's clear the Lakers are waiting on a deal that will truly move the needle while allowing them to see what their current roster is capable of, especially when healthy.
While Westbrook's name has consistently appeared in trade rumors this year, he has been a breath of fresh air for the Lakers since accepting his sixth-man role. In 14 games as a reserve, Westbrook is averaging 15.7 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds on 41.5 percent shooting from the field and a much-improved 35.0 percent from 3.
MORE: LeBron's aid of Westbrook shows chemistry needed for season turnaround
This next stretch of games with a healthy trio of James, Davis, and Westbrook could be enough to see the Lakers stand pat and look for alternatives on the free-agent market to add talent to the roster.
Westbrook's evolution is one thing, but making a deal with the Pacers could rob the Lakers of what looks like their deadliest weapon: Anthony Davis at center.
Despite his well-known preference for playing at the power forward position, there's no denying the Lakers and Davis have both looked at their best with the 11-year veteran playing at center. In a recent five-game stretch with James on the sidelines, Davis was the driving force in keeping the Lakers afloat while putting up some historic numbers along the way.
In James' absence, the eight-time All-Star averaged 33.2 points, 17.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 2.2 assists, and 2.2 steals, while shooting 59.6 percent from the field, earning plenty of praise from LeBron.
"AD was the best player in the league over the last four-to-five games," James said. "Just his numbers and productivity on both sides of the floor. It's not just offensively but defensively he's been super engaged."
Davis starred for the Lakers in their championship run at the five and once the playoffs arrive, matchups will likely see them do the same, making Turner's value diminished in the games that matter most.
The Pacers appear to be standing firm on wanting both of the Lakers' available first-round picks and while the Lakers brass wants to maintain future flexibility, time is ticking on the LeBron-AD era.
The franchise already went all-in to trade for Davis to win a title in 2020, but without young players and assets at their disposal this time around, moving Westbrook is LA's only avenue to rejuvenate the roster.
The question remains whether or not a trade for Hield and Turner is the championship-winning move the Lakers need to make.
