Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner has been with the organization for 10 seasons, turning himself into an above-average center with his jump shooting and shot-blocking abilities. Averaging 15.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 39.6% from deep, Turner and star point guard Tyrese Haliburton have developed a lethal pick-and-pop combination that has been a catalyst behind two straight Eastern Conference Finals runs.
With an expensive offseason coming up for the Pacers and Turner becoming a free agent, there’s a possibility that he’s priced himself out of a return to Indiana, barring an unprecedented pay cut. In that case, what teams could be first in line to put a rich offer in front of Turner?
5 Free Agency Landing Spots for Stretch Big Man Myles Turner
Brooklyn Nets
The only team with significant salary cap space, the Brooklyn Nets’ roughly $55 million available is more than double the next team on the list. Because of that, expect them to be linked with nearly every free agent this summer as a possible destination.
Despite having a starting center in Nic Claxton currently on the roster, Brooklyn may make the move for Turner. In that scenario, Claxton may serve as a trade asset considering his shot-blocking and rim-running abilities, which will be attractive to some teams in the market. Turner, who has a similar defensive prowess to Claxton, will open up the offense for the Nets with his 3-point shooting, a very valuable skill in today’s NBA.
Golden State Warriors
A sign-and-trade deal would be the only way for this to happen, but it certainly remains a possibility. The Warriors’ young core has repeatedly shown it’s probably not on the same timeline as Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler III. That young core includes Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and potentially Brandin Podziemski, all players who could be attractive off the bench for the Pacers or be rerouted to a third team to complete a deal.
Turner’s fit with Golden State is the intriguing part here. Curry has never played with a high-level stretch big man, and this could help relieve some of the pressure he endures as one of only two or three shooters on the floor. The Indiana ace’s shot-blocking would be something the Warriors haven’t had since Andrew Bogut, who was the anchor behind their 2015 championship win.
Sacramento Kings
As they enter a new era post the De’Aaron Fox trade, the Kings are an unknown at this point and nobody is sure what their offseason plans are. New general manager Scott Perry could opt to tear it all down, testing the market for players such as Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis.
Though Turner isn’t necessarily a star, he could be an early building block as someone who not only accentuates others with his ability to space the floor but also provides a defensive backline.
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Orlando Magic
Though the Magic have made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, they haven’t been able to get out of the first round. While starting center Wendell Carter Jr. is solid, his lack of size and poor shooting performance this season put a cap on Orlando’s ceiling, as he’s just another piece who doesn’t create space for star forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Turner’s addition, possibly through a sign-and-trade, would open up the floor, giving their two stars more room to work while not taking away anything defensively. In fact, Carter averaged just 0.6 blocks per game, a far cry from Turner’s 2.0 blocks a night this season.
Los Angeles Lakers
Before Haliburton’s addition to the Pacers, Turner was seemingly on the trading block for years. The team that came up the most as a potential landing spot was the Los Angeles Lakers, as they’d long looked for a center to play alongside Anthony Davis.
Now with Luka Dončić on the team and Davis out, a sign-and-trade to Los Angeles is a real possibility as the Lakers look for a long-term pairing between Dončić and a big man who would be comfortable operating in the pick-and-roll. Turner’s chemistry with Haliburton is terrific, and he could replicate that with Dončić.
