Months ago, when the Los Angeles Lakers were stuck with Russell Westbrook and didn’t know what to do with him, there was a stubborn rumor that they had an opportunity to trade him for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers.
But owner Jeanie Buss reportedly said no to that trade offer, and instead, Westbrook was dealt in February for D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley.
Now that the dust has settled on the immediate results of that trade, Los Angeles has reportedly been linked once again to Turner and Hield just ahead of the 2023 NBA draft. They have also been linked to a few other 3-and-D wings (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via The Athletic:
“Names around the league that have been linked to the Lakers in recent weeks include Indiana’s Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, Brooklyn’s Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale, Toronto’s Gary Trent Jr. and Washington’s Kristaps Porzingis, according to multiple league sources not authorized to speak publicly.”
The Lakers need improved 3-point shooting and center depth, and Turner and Hield could fill both needs.
Turner, a 6-foot-11 center, is an excellent shot-blocker and rim protector, and he is also a dependable 3-point shooter who made 37.3% of his attempts from downtown this season. Hield, meanwhile, is one of the game’s premier outside shooters, both in terms of accuracy and volume.
The Lakers were reportedly very close to trading for Hield in the summer of 2021 before they pivoted and got Westbrook instead, presumably due to the influence of LeBron James.