The Los Angeles Lakers are back in the trade rumor mill, and this time, Rob Pelinka might just be willing to mortgage a piece of the team’s future for a “dream fit” alongside Anthony Davis. The latest whispers around the league suggest that the Lakers are contemplating sending their 2029 and 2031 first-round picks to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Myles Turner, the shot-blocking, three-point-splashing big man.
That’s right, folks—two future firsts for a guy who may or may not stick around past April. High stakes? Absolutely. Desperate? Well, when you’ve got LeBron James operating on borrowed time and a Western Conference loaded with teams that are younger, faster, and hungrier, you don’t really have the luxury of patience.
Myles Turner: The Unicorn Next to AD?
On paper, Turner is everything the Lakers need. He’s a defensive anchor, a capable floor spacer, and at 28, he’s got enough left in the tank to be a long-term piece. He’s averaging 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game this season while shooting an impressive 39.3% from deep.
Let’s be honest—finding a big man who can both protect the rim and stretch the floor is like spotting a unicorn in the wild. And considering how Davis has historically despised playing center full-time, Turner would allow him to shift back to power forward, a position where he can do maximum damage without taking the nightly beating in the paint.
But Here’s the Catch…
Turner isn’t exactly coming gift-wrapped with a long-term contract. He’s on the final year of his deal, making $19.9 million, and word around the league is that he wants a $30 million annual extension. That’s a big chunk of change for a franchise already walking on salary cap eggshells.
If Pelinka is indeed serious about sending those precious future first-rounders to Indiana, the Lakers need some kind of assurance that Turner will re-sign. Otherwise, they’re just handing the Pacers two lottery tickets while renting Turner for a few months—an outcome that would make Lakers fans scream louder than Stephen A. Smith after a bad Knicks loss.
To Trade or Not to Trade? That Is the Question
NBA insider Anthony Irwin recently reported that the Lakers have had “extensive conversations” internally about Turner. The key factor? Whether Turner would actually re-sign at a number that doesn’t make Pelinka break out in a cold sweat.
“If the answer to that question is yes, then maybe, just maybe, this is the year Rob Pelinka trades for him,” Irwin wrote.
The Lakers’ front office is essentially standing at the crossroads of “Go Big or Go Home.” If they pull the trigger on this trade and Turner walks in free agency, they’ll be left with nothing but regret and a couple of “what if” scenarios. On the flip side, if Turner re-signs and becomes a key piece next to Davis for years to come, Pelinka will look like a genius who saw the future before the rest of us did.
The Final Verdict? Buckle Up, Lakers Fans
Lakers trade rumors are as frequent as bad officiating calls, but this one has some weight. It’s not just about Turner—it’s about maximizing LeBron’s remaining years and giving Davis the best possible running mate in the frontcourt.
Will Pelinka take the gamble? Will Turner be the missing piece in LA’s championship puzzle, or just another name in the long list of “almost happened” Lakers trades?
Stay tuned—because the NBA trade deadline is never short on chaos, and the Lakers are always at the center of it.