Myles Turner Pleads For Lakers To Trade For Him
It feels like Myles Turner has been involved in trade rumors since dinosaurs were roaming the planet. OR maybe they’re just all made up by the fake trade fetish doctor, Bill Simmons. This time, however, we all know that Indiana is tanking and they would probably best serve to cash in on some assets.
Turner, 26, is in the final year of a deal that will pay him $18 million prior to hitting unrestricted free agency this summer. With Turner’s name floating in the rumor mill, he put himself out there on the Adrian Wojnarowski podcast. No secrets were made here. Turner wants the Lakers to trade for him.
“If I’m the Lakers, I take a very hard look at this, with the position that you’re in,” Turner said on The Woj Pod. “I know what I can provide for a team – my leadership, my shot-blocking, my 3-point ability, and just my ability to make plays out there on the floor.”
“I’ve grown up in Indiana, I’ve been here since I was 19 years old, and of course, there’s some emotional attachment to it,” Turner said. “But when it comes to this business, when it comes to business in general, you have to try and cut those emotional ties.”
“You are in the microscope out there in the West,” Turner said. “When you’re doing bad, you’re going to hear about it, but when you’re doing great, you’re going to get a lot of love, especially with the love that the Lakers get.”
I have several follow-up questions so let’s discuss them.
A: WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE LAKERS! This team is totally screwed. They’re 1-5 on the season and probably have a better chance to land Victor Wembanyama for the Pelicans than they do to make a deep playoff run. Signing up to be on this Lakers team on purpose is so insane that someone needs to schedule him for a therapy session immediately.
B: On paper, yes, Turner can help the Lakers. He provides a lot of things they don’t have; shooting and low post defense. Turner can hit long-range shots and play the five since we all know Anthony Davis is too soft to do so.
Furthermore, I can’t believe someone is saying this but Turner somehow actually wants to play with LeBron James. No third wheel ever thrives under LeBron but I guess Turner is ready to make all the bad decisions so I’ll let him explain why he wants to suffer anxiety and losing.
“Another aspect of that is playing with greatness and playing under LeBron,” Turner said. “I feel like he demands a certain level of (excellence), especially at this point in his career.”
If Turner does wind up on the Lakers, it will be because the Lakers gave away those 2027 and 2029 first round picks in a package that also includes Buddy Hield. Personally, I just don’t get why that’s enticing for the Pacers. I need at least one first round pick for just taking Westbrook. Selling both Hield and Turner for that package seems gross but time will tell. Furthermore, if the Lakers keep losing, why exactly are they trading away more picks?
Just some free advice for Myles Turner. Go literally anywhere else. Asking to go to the Lakers is asking to lose money in free agency. It’s dumb and someone else needs to represent you.
