Lakers trade scenario: Blockbuster move for $40,903,500 shot-blocking machine that sees Anthony Davis scale "Bubble" potential 

The LA Lakers' need for a center next to Anthony Davis hasn't been more glaring. The two-big model helped several teams succeed in the past, including LA, who won the 2019-20 championship in the Orlando bubble with that setup. Davis primarily played the four and was moved to the five occasionally.

Since then, he's rarely found minutes at his favored position. The five-out offense model pushed him to play more center, and while that's creating a positive impact on several occasions, it's hurting Davis and the Lakers defensively. It has increased AD's responsibility as a two-way threat.

The Lakers are among the easiest teams to score on without AD. After boasting reliable centers like JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard, the Lakers haven't had such a presence in the paint since. However, four seasons later, Rob Pelinka could finally address that issue.

According to various NBA trade rumors, the Lakers are eyeing centers like Walker Kessler, Nikola Vucevic, Jonas Valanciunas, Nick Richards, Day'Ron Sharpe and Robert Williams III. Kessler seems like the ideal fit, possibly providing the same impact McGee and Howard had on the championship team.

However, he's not a floor spacer, and AD's regression as a jump shooter might hinder LA's offense. While they will get plenty of minutes on the floor together, it may not be consistent. On the other hand, Vucevic provides significant spacing, and Valanciunas is serviceable in that regard.

Both have massive defensive limitations, though. Richards and Sharpe are athletic and mobile, but LA would be better off with players who have decent experience and/or a higher upside. Williams is one of the better defensive centers and has some experience playing on a contender like the Celtics.

The issue with Williams is his injury proneness, which is well documented, making him a difficult candidate to gamble on, considering LA would lose trade assets that can be used elsewhere.

With pros and cons for every center target the Lakers reportedly have in mind, the options are limited for LA. However, there is one key target, who could be a needle mover.

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Lakers trade scenario: Anthony Davis could elevate his game to attain "bubble" success with this center

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Indiana Pacers - Source: Imagn

The Lakers need someone who can stay on the floor with or without Anthony Davis and is a legitimate floor spacer who can protect the rim. Across the NBA, one of the first names that comes to anyone's mind is Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner. The 6-foot-11 big man is a career 35.8% 3-point shooter (39.0% this season on 4.9 attempts) who has averaged 2.2 blocks in 606 NBA games.

Turner signed a $40,903,500 two-year deal with Indiana in Jan 2023 and is making $19.9 million this season, the final year of his contract. He's an expensive player for the Lakers, but one that likely changes the team's landscape as a two-way threat. LA also has the picks and the contracts to entice the Pacers into parting ways with Turner.

The Lakers have three tradeable first-round picks. They can move two together (2029 and 2031) or trade just the 2030 pick. Due to the "Stepien Rule," they can't trade all three or the 2029 and 2030 picks as they are available in consecutive years.

To entice Indiana, the Lakers will likely have to part ways with at least one first-round pick, but that may also need them to include this year's first-round pick, Dalton Knecht.

It gives the Pacers the incentive to move on from Turner, who has been highly productive since Tyrese Haliburton came to town in 2022-23. After that, he averaged 16.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks on 53/37/77 splits in 176 games.

The Lakers must add Rui Hachimura based on what the Pacers want in that potential move. Here's a couple of trade framework ideas to make this deal come to fruition:

Trade idea #1:

Lakers receive	Pacers receive
Myles Turner	Rui Hachimura
	Dalton Knecht
	2029 first-round pick

Another option for the Lakers would be to remove Dalton Knecht and Rui Hachimura from the equation and part ways with Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt instead. However, it will also need the Lakers to load up on draft compensation. Here's trade idea #2:

Here's trade idea #2:

Lakers receive	Pacers recieve
Myles Turner	Gabe Vincent
	Jarred Vanderbilt
	2029 first-round pick
	Two 2025 second round picks

Both potential deals have their pros and cons. In the first one, the Lakers would lose the scoring and shooting of Rui Hachimura and a high-upside player in Dalton Knecht. However, neither has been reliable in big moments this season, especially lately. LA also preserves draft capital to make other upgrades in this scenario.

The other move helps the Lakers retain Hachimura and Knecht but at the cost of heavy draft compensation. LA also loses guard and wing depth and must maneuver other moves with only one first-round pick (2031).

However, they can use Hachimura, Knecht, Christian Wood and Cam Reddish's contracts to make other marginal upgrades. In either deal, the Pacers potentially gain more than they lose with Myles Turner.

They can flip those contracts or picks to reset slightly amid an inconsistent season. It's a bold move for the Lakers as it will exhaust most of their trade assets, but it has a win-now potential, especially with LeBron James and Anthony Davis still at the helm.