It’s something we’ve talked about all offseason. The NBA in general keeps bringing it up; will the Lakers trade their two unprotected first-round picks to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield? So far, they have been unwilling to do so.
Turner was on The Woj Pod on Monday and talked with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski about a myriad of topics, but a lot of the discussion was focused on whether or not Turner has a future with the Pacers. Turner has been in trade rumors for the last three or four years.
Turner mentions in the pod that he actually thought the deal in Boston was done. He thought he was going to get traded for Gordon Hayward. That obviously didn’t happen, and he’s still in Indy. He does think the Lakers should pull the trigger on a trade for him.
Myles Turner thinks the Lakers should give the Indiana Pacers those two picks for his services.
Talking with Woj about the Lakers specifically, he thinks that he has the skillset that the Lakers are looking for.
"I think personally, when you look at this business of the league and you look at the landscape of the league, you have to go off your future. And we know picks are so valuable in this league and someone like myself is heading into the last year of my deal. And you want to make sure you’re getting return for your assets. If you’re the Lakers, I take a very hard look at this at the position that you’re in. I know what I can provide for a team. My leadership, my shot-blocking, my three-point ability, and my ability to make plays out there on the floor and I take a very long look at it."
That certainly sounds like he wants to head out to Los Angeles. Turner also talked about how he thinks it could be a nice change of pace to play in a bigger market because the Midwest teams don’t get as much love as they should, which is true.
Listening to the full pod, it sure doesn’t sound like Turner is going to re-sign with the Pacers at the end of the year. His main focus is just staying healthy so that he doesn’t lose value so that he either does get traded or he can sign elsewhere.
I love Myles. He’s my favorite Pacer. He has handled all of the rumors of the years the best you can handle it. He has had nothing but professionalism during a very trying time in his NBA career. Whether or not he gets traded or signs elsewhere, I wish nothing but the best for him.
I would love for him to stay with the Indiana Pacers, but that doesn’t sound likely. Either way, he has a fan for life in me. If he is going to leave, the Pacers should move him before the deadline to make sure they at least get something back in return.
Meanwhile, you can check out the pod here: