Los Angeles Lakers had a season filled with dramas and chaos. The squad started the current season with a 2-10 record which was clearly horrible. But then they turned it around and miraculously made it to the postseason. There, the Lakers shocked everybody beating the second-seed Memphis Grizzlies and the defending champions Golden State Warriors in Round 1 and 2, respectively. As a result, fans and experts were hoping to see LeBron James win his 5th championship ring at the age of 38. But Denver Nuggets, the top seed, shattered those dreams in the Western Conference Finals.
It was undoubtedly a humiliating way to end the season. Even after coming from a terrible position, the Lakers were the strongest defensive side in the tournament. But the strongest offensive side, with the force of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, had the better of them. On top of that, LeBron James later gave a huge shocker to his and the Lakers’ fans with the hint of a possible retirement in the recent future. The Lakers Faithful are all very sad with how things have proceeded since then. Now, the Lakers’ front office needs to bring in some quality players who can keep the squad intact even if LeBron leaves. Reportedly, they are looking to buy Myles Turner from Indiana Pacers. And for that, they are ready to let go of some key players in the offseason trade.
Myles Turner A Possible Choice For The Lakers To Buy In This Offseason
Currently, only three players on the LA side have guaranteed next year’s contract. They are LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Max Christie. Apparently, the Lakers are looking for someone to provide support to Anthony Davis in defense. In that case, the ideal option to bring in the squad would be Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers. He has been linked with the Lakers for a few years now. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, he is the obvious choice for them.
But Turner has become a big shot now. Hence, the Lakers’ front office might have to trade Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba, along with the first-round pick of 2023, to sign the Pacer. Beasley is worth $16.5 million, and Bamba is $10.3 million. However, Myles Turner is precisely someone the Lakers need right now. He has improved a lot in scoring and grabbing rebounds. Hence, Turner and Anthony Davis can work things out well despite people’s skepticism about how the two fit in the frontcourt in the playoffs. Jovan Buha also feels they are versatile and skilled enough to make it work.
Los Angeles Might Have To Trade D’Angelo Russell
The three young Lakers who caught the fan’s attention as they really supported LeBron James and Anthony Davis well are D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura. Of these three players, D’Lo is an unrestricted free agent, and the other two are restricted free agents. Hence, for any possible trade, the front office may trade D’Lo to bring in some quality players.
Unfortunately, Russell has disappointed fans and the front office in the playoffs. And recently, D’Lo himself expressed interest in moving to Miami Heat. Moreover, the hometown team from Florida has reached the finals and will face Denver Nuggets. At present, there is no confirmation yet about LeBron James’s availability for the next season as well. In such circumstances, is it the ideal thing to trade D’Lo Russell?
