The Los Angeles Lakers backed away this offseason from a proposed commerce of Russell Westbrook and draft capital to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and Budy Hield, sources inform Dave McMenamin.

The Lakers concluded that giving up each their 2027 and 2029 first spherical picks for Turner and Hield was too exorbitant of a worth given it would not routinely flip them into contenders.

The Lakers additionally believed that the commerce would stay obtainable to them by the Pacers additional alongside within the season.

The Lakers additionally anticipate extra groups to be open for enterprise starting December fifteenth when gamers who signed offseason contracts grow to be eligible to be traded.

Sources say there’s a perception by the leaders within the Lakers’ locker room that they’re solely a few gamers away from turning the roster right into a authentic contender.