I don't think the Lakers are far off from being contenders, in fact this trade should only be needed assuming Rob can't pull off a smaller dealer for a center like nick richards.

I think this makes perfect sense for both the nets and lakers. The pacers on the other hand this is more wishful thinking incase they ever decide to move on from Turner which I doubt they do.

As said in the title the preseason and first game of the regular season has made me cautiously optimistic that the Lakers may not need to do a larger trade such as this one.