The Indiana Pacers have made it no secret that they are in the midst of a mini-rebuild structured around budding young star Tyrese Haliburton.
As part of that process, they have been linked frequently to potential trades involving Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.
The Los Angeles Lakers have always been viewed as the likeliest potential suitor for a deal, though nothing has materialized up to this point.
This past week clarity emerge on both where the Pacers stand regarding a possible trade and how the Lakers fit into the equation.
“They could still trade Buddy; he’s been available since they got him,” an Eastern Conference executive said told Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
“But they’re not looking to tank, and I hear they’re trying to extend Myles.”
So that is one explanation for why nothing has happened thus far between the Lakers and Pacers.
The other explanation? L.A. feels like Indiana is demanding too much for its two sharpshooters.
“There has been little — yet — to indicate that the Lakers’ approach will change,” NBA insider Marc Stein reported.
“They decided in the offseason that packaging both of their available first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 is too steep a price to pay to trade for the Indiana duo of Myles Turner and Buddy Hield.”
The Lakers’ rationale here is clear. A combination of Turner and Hield does not necessarily put them in the hunt for a title. So why mortgage what is left of the future for them?
Some executives around the league believe there is a higher likelihood that Los Angeles trades LeBron James at some point before sacrificing what is left of their draft capital.
It’s a 4-team race for Trae Young if the Hawks decide to trade him. https://t.co/lyKEvKAIRs
— Game 7 (@game7__) January 8, 2023
Whether that actually ends up coming to fruition remain to be seen, though.
With the February’s NBA Trade Deadline rapidly approaching, the Lakers have been linked to 8 potential trades. Time will tell if any of them materialize.
In any case, despite a lot of offseason hype, it doesn’t appear as though Turner and/or Hield are coming to L.A. any time soon.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
