According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers have been “very high” on Indiana Pacers star Myles Turner for several seasons.

Buha responded to fan questions in a livestream on Sunday night, reporting that the Lakers pursued Turner midway through the 2022-23 NBA season and have continued to pursue him since then.

Buha, however, questioned whether the Pacers would be willing to move Turner now, adding that “I’ve never seen him as a legitimate candidate” in a trade.

The two-time block champion is headed to free agency and his future in Indianapolis is a regular source of speculation. He said in October that “I can’t help but laugh” at the constant rumor mill and that “at this point, every year in Indiana was a contract year.”

Given his contract situation, it stands to reason that this trade deadline could be the time the Pacers finally move on from Turner.

Buha cited a “tough, physical, defensive-minded center” as a clear area of ​​need for Los Angeles amid a disappointing season. The Lakers rank 20th in defensive rating (114.3) and allow opponents the ninth-highest scoring rate within five feet (65.4), according to NBA.com.

Acquiring a traditional rim protector like Turner would also take some of the pressure off Anthony Davis.

But the Pacers have long refused to embark on a complete rebuild or abandon the season unless forced to. Even after Paul George was transferred to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017, they remained focused on getting into the playoffs.

Indiana hasn’t gotten off to a good start at 14-15, but the team is still in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and just two games out of fifth place. Finishing in the top six and avoiding the play-in tournament is an achievable outcome.

Any trade the Lakers make will likely focus on draft compensation and/or salary padding, as they can ill-afford to weaken a supporting cast that already leaves much to be desired. That may not be to the Pacers’ satisfaction given their short-term priorities.