Myles Turner Staying In Indiana
Myles Turner is getting a payday. The veteran center and two-time block leader has agreed to a two-year, $60 million deal to stay with the Pacers. This will effectively end trade rumors surrounding the big man for at least the time being. Check out more from Woj:
At age 26, the Texas native is enjoying a career year for a resurgent Pacers squad. In year 8, the former lottery pick is scoring 17.5 points per game with a 39% clip from three, grabbing 7.9 rebounds, and blocking 2.4 shots. It’s no secret that this deal will cover Turner’s best years. There was plenty of speculation that Turner could be moved in his contract year. Instead, he is going to stick with the team that drafted with him. He looks to be a key piece to a team that is ahead of schedule in their rebuild.
At 24-27, Indy sits at 9th in the East. Turner complements the core of rising stars in Indiana. Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte, Jalen Smith, and impressive rookie Bennedict Mathurin are the headliners. It’s hard to believe that Turner is seen as a member of the old guard in Indiana despite being considered a young gun not too long ago. This group of Pacers could turn some heads very soon.
Pacer For Life?
Clearly, the term of the contract is a little interesting. Turner is now scheduled to be a free agent in 2025 when he is 29. It will be quite intriguing to see how this Pacers team progressed over the next few years. There is obviously no shortage of potential. But if Kevin Pritchard can’t continue developing this roster, Turner could start heading near the exit door.
I for one really like this move. Turner has been a criminally underrated big man for many years. He is an elite rim protector and one of the best shooting centers around. A career 13 point per game scorer may not scream out $30 million per year. But here’s my hot take. If I had to pick who to pay $30 million annually, I would take Turner over Rudy Gobert in a heartbeat. He is such a more well-rounded player and could help propel this Pacers team to future contender status.
Myles Turner is staying in Indiana for at least the foreseeable future. This is a win-win deal. The Pacers get to keep one of their best players while Turner has a chance at another payday in a couple of years. Now, we can all focus on watching this fun squad instead of worrying about off-the-court stuff.
