Pacers ahead Myles Turner believes his providers are what the Lakers want after a 1-5 begin to the season.
Throughout an look on the “The Woj Pod” on Monday, Turner was intrigued when requested a few report final month the Lakers had been in severe discussions with the Pacers about doubtlessly sending their two unprotected first-round picks (2027 and ’29) to Indiana for him and Buddy Hield.
“If I’m the Lakers, I take a really laborious take a look at this with the place that you simply’re in,” Turner stated. “I do know what I can present for a workforce. My management, my shot-blocking, my three-point potential and simply my potential to make performs on the market on the ground.
“And I take a really lengthy take a look at it. However so far as pulling the set off, … I receives a commission to shoot, not making these calls, so I couldn’t reply that.”
Final month, The Athletic reported that the Lakers tried negotiating a blockbuster commerce with the Pacers to dump Russell Westbrook proper earlier than coaching camp opened. The veteran guard was on the heart of summer-long commerce rumors after a traditionally poor offensive efficiency final season.
The deal would’ve despatched Westbrook and Los Angeles’ two unprotected first-round picks in 2027 and ’29 to the Pacers for Turner and Hield.
Nonetheless, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka reportedly pulled the plug on the discussions, and determined to “stay affected person” to see how the workforce jells.
“Sure, [it’s appealing]. Simply taking part in within the larger market, I simply really feel like right here within the Midwest we don’t get the love that I feel we deserve,” Turner stated. “It doesn’t get taken on the nationwide degree. You’re underneath the microscope on the market on the west, when you’re doing unhealthy you going to listen to about it.
“When you’re doing nice you’ll get loads of love, particularly with the love that Lakers get. I feel that one other side that’s taking part in with greatness and taking part in underneath LeBron, I really feel like he calls for sure degree of excellency particularly at this level of his profession. It’s simply a type of issues, when you’re on the market, you gotta carry out. Persons are going count on you to go on the market and maintain on to that legacy that Lakers have constructed through the years.”
Westbrook’s taking pictures struggles continued because the Lakers went 0-5 to start out the season. The previous league MVP got here off the bench in Sunday’s 121-110 win over Nuggets, within the Lakers’ newest experiment to make their roster work.
Westbrook — who exercised his $47.1 million possibility in June to return to Los Angeles — completed with 18 factors, eight rebounds and eight assists. He shot 6-for-12 from the sector and was 2-for-4 from three-point vary.
In the meantime, Lakers proprietor Jeanie Buss and head coach Darvin Ham have expressed optimism about Westbrook taking part in underneath the brand new coach.
It’s a matter of how lengthy will the Lakers be affected person with Westbrook. Los Angeles is in determined want of taking pictures, which Turner and Hield may present.
The Lakers are on a mission to return to the playoffs after a 33-49 end final season, permitting the third-most factors per recreation (115.1) within the NBA.
Turner is averaging 16 factors, eight rebounds and 4.5 blocks per recreation in two contests this season. He’s taking pictures 38.1 p.c from the sector and 37.5 p.c from three.
In Friday’s win over the Wizards, Turner completed with 27 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks and shot 3-of-4 from three-point vary. The Pacers are 3-4 to start out the season.
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