The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly actively shopping for another big man, a logical move given the recent injury history of their newly acquired frontcourt. While Walker Kessler played just five games for the Utah Jazz after undergoing shoulder surgery, Kevon Looney appeared in just 21 games for the New Orleans Pelicans with various injuries.
The last thing the Lakers need is to start the season without reliable frontcourt help in a conference that features Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic.
One interesting Lakers trade idea doing the rounds would add veteran big man Myles Turner from the Milwaukee Bucks. The Houston Rockets would get involved as the third team, absorbing two contracts as part of the $13.3M trade exception they created when they traded Dorian Finney-Smith to the Charlotte Hornets.
Lakers Trade Idea Lands Myles Turner
Lakers would receive: Myles Turner
Rockets would receive: Jaden Hardy (via TPE), Kevin Porter Jr. (via TPE)
Bucks would receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia (via TPE), 2031 second-round pick (via WAS), 2032 second-round pick (via WAS)
Why the Lakers Do It
The Lakers have everything to gain by adding one of the best stretch big men in the league with prior NBA Finals experience. Even in a down year last season, Turner managed to average 2.1 made threes per game at a solid clip of 38%.
Turner will instantly bring a different dynamic to a Lakers offense that doesn’t really have a stretch-five (despite Walker Kessler’s improving range). Lakers head coach JJ Redick can also experiment with lineups featuring both Turner and Kessler, given that both are athletic enough to feast on lobs and pick-and-roll opportunities.
The only potential downside is Turner’s contract, which has a $29M player option for the 2028-29 season. Turner, who turns 31 in March, may be hard to move in a few years, but he can definitely help the Lakers in the immediate future.
Why the Bucks Do It
In his first season in Milwaukee, Turner averaged his fewest points (11.9), rebounds (5.3), blocks (1.6) and minutes (26.9) since his rookie season. The veteran big man nearly fell out of the rotation at one point, leading to some dissension between him and former Bucks head coach Doc Rivers.
As the Bucks prepare to rebuild under Kel’el Ware, Brayden Burries, Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins and the rest of their young core, Turner doesn’t seem like the right fit. Furthermore, the Bucks would be wise to get off Turner’s contract when they can.
Why the Rockets Do It
Fred VanVleet’s return is a huge boost for the Rockets, but they could use a little more backcourt help. Kevin Porter Jr., who averaged a career-high 7.4 assists last season, can slide into the role of backup point guard, allowing Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard to operate in their more comfortable roles as two guards.
Last season, the Rockets burdened the two youngsters with ball-handling duties, a plan that backfired in the playoffs. Porter can carry some of that workload behind VanVleet.
The Rockets really have nothing to lose by taking a flyer on two expiring contracts with their TPE. Both Porter and Jaden Hardy can be waived in the 2027 offseason.
Lakers Proposed to Trade for Myles Turner in 3-Team Blockbuster