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It sounds like another veteran center is off the board for the Los Angeles Lakers as the Feb. 6 trade deadline draws nearer.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Thursday that “the prevailing leaguewide sense” is that the Indiana Pacers “do not want to trade” longtime center Myles Turner, who was rumored to be a candidate to be moved before next week’s deadline.
Turner is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, so the Pacers are risking the possibility of losing him for nothing on the open market. Still, Stein added that there’s “a strong belief among some league personnel that Indiana would need to see proposals that return a starting-level center to even consider the notion” of trading him.
The Lakers have been known to be seeking an upgrade at center for quite some time. Star big man Anthony Davis even told ESPN’s Shams Charania that he feels he’s more effective when he’s allowed to play power forward. The franchise reportedly heard his message loud and clear.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, trading for another center “has become even more of a priority for the Lakers” following Davis’ comments.
However, Los Angeles will have to make a major offer to Indiana if it wants to convince to team to let go of Turner before the deadline passes.
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