Lakers Trade Rumors: LA ‘Very High on’ Myles Turner but Not ‘a Legitimate Candidate’ | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers have “been very high on” Indiana Pacers big Myles Turner for multiple seasons, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.

Responding to fan questions on a live stream Sunday night, Buha reported the Lakers pursued Turner midway through the 2022-23 NBA season and have continued to track him since then.

However, Buha questioned whether the Pacers would be willing to move Turner right now and added that “I’ve not heard of him as like a legitimate candidate” in a swap.

The two-time block champion is headed for free agency, and his future in Indianapolis is a regular source of speculation. He said in October that “I can’t help but laugh” about the steady swirl of rumors and that “every year in Indiana has been a contract year at this point.”

Given his contract situation, it stands to reason this trade deadline might be the time when the Pacers finally move on from Turner.

Buha cited a “tough, physical, defensive-minded center” as a clear area of need for Los Angeles amid a disappointing season. The Lakers are 20th in defensive rating (114.3), and they’re allowing opponents to shoot the ninth-highest percentage inside five feet (65.4), per NBA.com.

Acquiring a traditional rim protector such as Turner would also ease the burden on Anthony Davis.

But the Pacers have long been resistant to embracing a full rebuild or throwing in the towel on the season unless their hand is forced. Even after trading Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017, they remained fixated on contending for the playoffs.

Indiana isn’t off to a great start at 14-15, yet the team is still eighth in the Eastern Conference and only two games back of fifth place. A top-six seed and avoiding the play-in tournament is an attainable outcome.

Any trade the Lakers make is likely to be centered around draft compensation and/or salary filler since they can ill afford to deplete a supporting cast that already leaves something to be desired. That may not be to the Pacers’ satisfaction given their short-term priorities.