The Los Angeles Lakers seem to move on from Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets and have their sights set on Buddy Hield.
More specifically, they have activated their plan B and have re-engaged talks with the Indiana Pacers.
“There has been some talks reengaged between the Lakers and the Indiana Pacers that would center around a Buddy Hield deal,” Dave McMenamin of ESPN reports.
.@mcten on the latest trade rumors surrounding the Lakers 👀
“There has been some talks reengaged between the Lakers and the Indiana Pacers that would center around a Buddy Hield deal.” pic.twitter.com/2GiNSYQhds
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 20, 2022
It will be easier for the Lakers to acquire Buddy Hield from the Pacers, as they would need to include Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn and draft picks.
On the other hand, if the 17-time NBA champions pursued a trade for both Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, they would need to move Russell Westbrook as well. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Lakers aim to make more than one deals this offseason.
Hield spent the previous season between the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers. He averaged 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 81 games. The 30-year-old guard has two years and $39M left on his current contract.
"I think the Lakers will make a deal, maybe more than one deal. It may not be for Kyrie Irving, it may not be for an All-NBA player, an All-Star… It's not completely dead with Brooklyn… I don't think the Lakers are done."
🗣️ @wojespnpic.twitter.com/u4YAthd6EL
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) July 18, 2022
