There is no secret what the Lakers’ priority will be when free agency opens this week. It is the same thing it was last offseason. And it is the same thing Anthony Davis pined for before that.
Find a center.
But as Luka Dončić has reportedly communicated, not just any center would suffice, he wants the Lakers to acquire an “A-list” center this summer.
Although the duo of Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes did a serviceable job shoring up the position, the playoffs proved there is an echelon of big needed to succeed. Finding an upgrade, however, may prove more difficult than previously expected.
Multiple potential targets have already changed teams or agreed to stay with their current organization. And while there is still hope the Lakers can land one of Walker Kessler or Jalen Duren, there are serious hurdles standing in their way.
If the team strikes out on those big fish as well, the Lakers may find themselves back at a familiar name — Myles Turner.
Given how many times he’s been linked to Los Angeles over the years, Turner is essentially an honorary Laker at this point. But will this offseason finally be the time he officially wears purple and gold?
Let’s look at the pros and cons.
Pros
While Turner would not be any Lakers fans’ preferred outcome, there are potential positives in acquiring him worth examining.
Despite some slippage this past season, Turner still offers an intriguing skill set that may be even more desirable given who sits atop the Western Conference.
Turner remains one of the NBA’s premier floor-spacing bigs as more than half of his shots (54%) came from behind the arc last season. He not only converted them at a healthy rate (38%), but, compared to the Lakers’ roster last year, his 147 made 3’s would have finished second behind only Dončić.
Beyond adding a much-needed new element to the Lakers’ offense, the ability to proficiently play five-out could be critical in postseason matchups with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in particular, as it would force Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren away from the paint.
Although not the same defender as he was in Indiana, Turner could also still provide value for the Lakers on the other end as well.
Behind his steady block numbers (84th percentile) and timing, the Bucks allowed 7.2 points less on defense when Turner was on the floor compared to off. Opposing teams also attempted 3% less of their shots at the rim and shot 4% worse once there when the big man patrolled the paint. Turner’s ability to be a deterrent would be welcome for a Lakers team that allowed the second-highest field-goal percentage at the rim during the regular season.
There could also be unique off-court value to Turner compared to other options.
After dealing Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks will likely be open to trading the veteran center as they enter their rebuild, especially after acquiring Kel’el Ware. And given Turner’s contract (more on that later), the asking price would be far less than other starting fives on the market.
Adding Turner’s upcoming $26 millon to the books would take a large chunk out of the Lakers’ cap space this summer, but the team could alleviate the hit by shedding their own unwanted salaries in a potential deal.
For example, the Lakers could send roughly $16 million between Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht to Milwaukee in a Turner swap. That would be a much more palatable $10 million clip to their spending power. If they also want to part ways with Jake LaRavia, Turner would only be adding $4 million to their cap sheet this upcoming year. And if it’s Ayton instead of LaRavia, the cap hit would only be a negligible $2 million difference.
If any of these iterations actually occur, this would allow the Lakers enough money left over to address other needs on the roster. They can make a competitive offer to Peyton Watson. They can add more center depth by signing Mitchell Robinson or Robert Williams. They can split up that money and sign multiple players to fill out their bench. All options that would not be possible if they sign either Kessler or Duren to a max deal.
Cons
The downsides of trading for Turner are simple.
While his shooting would add an intriguing wrinkle to the Lakers’ offense, it may not jive with the Lakers’ pick-and-roll-heavy playcalling. Turner’s popping would be helpful, but Dončić has thrived playing with centers who could roll and finish over the top. He has also made his desire for a lob threat clear in the past. Turner is not that.
According to the league’s tracking data, Turner converted just 44.9% of his pick-and-roll chances with the Bucks. He also made a suboptimal 52.3% of his 2-point shots overall (22nd percentile among bigs). For comparison, Ayton finished 65.8% of his pick-and-roll looks and a tremendous 67.1% of his 2-point chances (88th percentile).
Turner has also notoriously been a below-average rebounder at his position. Couple that with taking a step back athletically, and adding him to a starting lineup with Dončić and Austin Reaves could put the Lakers at a severe speed disadvantage.
There is the possibility that Turner can turn back the clock and perform closer to the center who was in the Finals just two years ago by playing on a team with title aspirations. But expecting more gradual decline over the course of his contract is far more realistic. It is worth pointing out that at 30, Turner is six years older than Kessler and eight years older than Duren.
Speaking of his contract, when including this upcoming season, Turner still has roughly $82 million owed to him over the next three years.
That may not be an issue in the aforementioned short term, but once Reaves’ new deal kicks in next season, the Lakers will quickly find they have a lot invested in the trio. They could always reroute Turner when it becomes an issue, but that likely will cost valuable draft capital to do so.
Beyond the potential awkward on-court fit and future financial headache, the Lakers’ front office should also be wary of how Dončić would feel about Turner’s addition. He is in no way the “A-list” center or vertical threat he reportedly desires, nor would he put the Lakers in the same tier as either the Spurs or Thunder.
Dončić’s future with the team is not guaranteed, and the team must operate as such. After expressing to the star that this summer will be the time they make big moves, anything less could be viewed as a failure, or worse, a lie.
Even with draft picks and more cap space than any other team at their disposal, the Lakers’ fortunes will ultimately depend on who they employ as their starting center. If it’s Turner or someone else, they’d better deliver a roster that was worth the wait.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.
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