Myles Turner is still considered a trade candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers. But the 2020 champion has competition. The LA Clippers are also said to be interested in the Indiana Pacers center.
Like Eric Pincus (Bleacher Report) reports that the Clippers should deal with the Big Man internally. The franchise needs another center following the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein (New York Knicks) this summer, and Turner is said to have been identified as the best option.
There is currently only a true five in Ivica Zubac, leaving Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington and Marcus Morris to help out in center when the Croatian takes a seat on the bench. Turner could create relief here. The contract of the 26-year-old (17.5 million) expires in the summer, which would not be an obstacle for the Clippers.
According to Pincus, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer would be willing to pay Turner, meaning the Clippers would have to pay even more luxury tax. As of now, the Clippers would have to pay around 145 million dollars on top of the almost 192 million dollars in salary costs, so that the team costs almost 350 million dollars.
For Turner, the Clippers could give up parts of their wing rotation. Norman Powell, Luke Kennard, Morris or Covington are considered candidates, while the two lead guards Reggie Jackson and John Wall are to be kept.
Turner, meanwhile, got off to a good start to the season. In seven games so far, the center has had career highs in points (17.9) and rebounds (8.7). In addition, the Pacers-Big leads the league again in blocks with 3.1 rejections.
