The Lakers’ need for center depth has intensified with the news that Anthony Davis will miss at least one week with an abdominal strain. Considering that Davis’s backups are largely ineffective and trade talks are shifting by the day, new reporting suggests it’s time for LA to revisit a familiar target.
With Davis Out, Could Lakers Swing for Indiana Center Again?
Center Need at All-Time High for Lakers
Davis’s injury comes days after he put up a season-high 42 points and 23 rebounds. Though it was against a lowly Charlotte Hornets squad, it served as a reminder of AD’s dominance throughout the season, notable given the team’s offensive shift under JJ Redick.
The Lakers’ struggles in their loss to Philadelphia, exacerbated by Davis’s absence from the second quarter onward, exemplified why having capable big men is key for the rest of the season. Christian Wood has yet to return following offseason knee surgery; Christian Koloko, though solid, is limited by the 55 NBA games he can play on a two-way contract; and Jaxson Hayes hasn’t proven he can be a complementary piece next to or behind AD, getting caught in lowlights like this one.
I just don’t like Jaxson Hayes.
Bobbles the pass but what he did after that pisses me off even more. The ball is still in play and DK diving for it and he just stays there bobbing his head and doesn’t move.
We better pray AD okay, because if not, we are screwed. pic.twitter.com/dIJCSL47zD
— Richard Staple, BSN, RN
(@RichStapless) January 29, 2025
The Lakers have been stuck vying for upgrades at the five all year long, leading some to believe acquiring a two-time blocks champ could finally be a possibility.
Turner Talk Strikes Again
The Indiana Pacers and Myles Turner have reached an impasse in regards to the center’s future. Reports say the Pacers are reluctant to offer Turner a $30+ million contract extension, leading to speculation that Indy may finally be ready to move on from him after a decade in The Hoosier State.
Sources told ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel and Anthony Irwin: “…the Lakers have held extensive conversations about Turner internally and are weighing whether it makes sense to put both the first-rounders they can move this trade deadline on the table for him.” They added that talks surrounding Nikola Vucevic and Jonas Valanciunas had gone south, leading the Lakers to shift their focus toward other names.
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha discussed Turner as a potential trade target, describing him as a near-perfect complement to Davis.
“He’s the rare 3-and-D center, joining the likes of Kristaps Porziņģis and Brook Lopez as 7-foot(ish) bigs who shoot an above-average percentage on a high volume of 3s while also credibly protecting the rim,” Buha wrote. “Turner was nearly a Laker ahead of the 2022-23 season, when…LA was close with Indiana on a Russell Westbrook for Turner and Buddy Hield swap. The Lakers have long coveted him.”
However, Buha also cautioned the Pacers would need a center in any trade for Turner, citing, “They are not an organization that tanks, and giving up their starting center without getting another would likely cause them to take a step back in the East.”
A Legit Perfect Fit
Turner has joined Walker Kessler and Valanciunas, among others, as a handful of centers fans want the Lakers to get. However, their pleas have merit this time around.
As Buha mentioned, Turner’s ability to protect the paint and space the floor fill two vital holes for the Lakers. Davis has had to do both for most of the season, showcasing his stifling defense while increasing his three-point output for the first time since 2020 (he took a career-high 3.5 threes per game in 2019-20, and has taken 2.2 per game this year).
Bringing in Turner would also take an enormous weight off of Davis’s shoulders as an enforcer in the paint and reinforcement in case of injury. It would also employ the two-big style that both Davis and Turner are familiar with. Davis found success with JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard during LA’s title run, while Turner joined Domantas Sabonis in the starting frontcourt for 2.5 seasons (Oct. 2019-Feb. 2022).
With cases for Kessler, Valanciunas and others growing thin, the Lakers must reconsider a trade for Turner, especially at this point in the season. The team has relied on Davis and LeBron James so much that they barely have answers in the event they miss games. It’s crucial that the Lakers meet the demands of their star players and fans ahead of the deadline, and adding someone of Turner’s caliber is a necessary step in the right direction.
© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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