Turner turns the screws/LAL/IND
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 1:57 pm
Sorry, IND...this trade is based on IND disappointing in the playoffs and Turner getting frisky. No matter what happens, Haliburton is going nowhere. But, IND invested heavily in Siakim, who is a big-time player with a big-time contract too. They can't sink back to the bottom with those two major investments. IF they look good to end the year, I expect they'll try to just re-sign Myles Turner and keep it on the tracks. If they falter, on one end or the other, or Turner happily announces that he loves LAL
, they could make changes. This deal's fairness must be considered with Turner's demand/request in mind...this is IND doing pretty well with a direction they hadn't necessarily hoped for...
ORL sends: WCJ, KCP, Jett Howard, DEN 25 frp
ORL gets: Austin Reaves, Benjamin Mathurin, Rui Hachimura
Why: Backcourt playmaker/scorer they desperately need, Mathurin is a huge offensive upgrade off the bench, Rui is solid depth
IND sends: Myles Turner ($32m SnT), Mathurin
IND gets: Wendell Carter, KCP, DEN 25 frp
Why: KCP is a perfect pairing with Hali, he ups the defensive identity significantly and can run with IND's fast-pace. WCJ slots in as a versatile C that can spread the floor for Hali & Siakim to do their thing. Late frp for giving up Mathurin - who'd likely lose minutes with Nembhard being the third of three guards getting big minutes anyway. ORL would prefer to up the draft equity and get Nembhard, but IND isn't considering that.
LAL sends: Reaves, Hachimura
LAL gets: Myles Turner, Jett Howard
LAL gets their dream C, a rim-protecting, floor-spreading, lob target for two of the best passers in the NBA. LAL loves Reaves, but Luka's role severely diminishes Reaves' place in the offense. Howard is salary filler, but still very young and promising as another sniper like Knecht. ORL doesn't mind including him as guaranteed money without a guaranteed role is a no-no with all of the big rookie extensions hitting soon.

ORL sends: WCJ, KCP, Jett Howard, DEN 25 frp
ORL gets: Austin Reaves, Benjamin Mathurin, Rui Hachimura
Why: Backcourt playmaker/scorer they desperately need, Mathurin is a huge offensive upgrade off the bench, Rui is solid depth
IND sends: Myles Turner ($32m SnT), Mathurin
IND gets: Wendell Carter, KCP, DEN 25 frp
Why: KCP is a perfect pairing with Hali, he ups the defensive identity significantly and can run with IND's fast-pace. WCJ slots in as a versatile C that can spread the floor for Hali & Siakim to do their thing. Late frp for giving up Mathurin - who'd likely lose minutes with Nembhard being the third of three guards getting big minutes anyway. ORL would prefer to up the draft equity and get Nembhard, but IND isn't considering that.
LAL sends: Reaves, Hachimura
LAL gets: Myles Turner, Jett Howard
LAL gets their dream C, a rim-protecting, floor-spreading, lob target for two of the best passers in the NBA. LAL loves Reaves, but Luka's role severely diminishes Reaves' place in the offense. Howard is salary filler, but still very young and promising as another sniper like Knecht. ORL doesn't mind including him as guaranteed money without a guaranteed role is a no-no with all of the big rookie extensions hitting soon.