Myles Turner’s departure from Indiana caught everyone off guard, including the man who coached him for four years. The veteran center’s move to Milwaukee wasn’t just another free agency signing. It was a financial opportunity that came and went faster than the Pacers could respond.
Why Didn’t the Pacers Get a Chance to Counter Milwaukee’s Offer?
Turner had been with the Pacers for 10 years after being drafted 11th overall in 2015. He was a consistent contributor for the entire decade and played a major role in the team’s historic run to the NBA Finals in 2024-25.
Rick Carlisle, who’s been coaching the Pacers for the past four seasons, had developed a strong bond with Turner and called his departure a significant loss for the franchise. During an appearance on the Green Light Podcast, Carlisle explained they didn’t get the chance to counter the Bucks’ four-year contract worth $108.9 million.
“Look, losing Myles Turner is a significant loss for our team,” Carlisle said. “The guy’s been a terrific player. He had a great season. And look, we were talking to his agent about him returning. And really, kind of out of nowhere, Milwaukee decided to waive Damian Lillard and stretch his contract – stretch his money out over whatever number of years you can do it by rule. And then they created space to sign Myles.”
The Bucks waived All-Star guard Damian Lillard and stretched the $113 million left on his deal over the next five seasons to create space for Turner’s contract. However, Carlisle revealed that the Bucks asked Turner to immediately agree to the deal and not use it for negotiations with the Bucks or other teams.
“I think what probably happened – and this is part of negotiation in any sport – A team will say: ‘Hey, look, we have this offer. It’s this much over this many years, but if we make this offer, we need to know that you’re going to take it and not shop it.’ And so, I believe that’s probably what happened with Milwaukee,” he added.
“It was a number. It was a certain number of years. And they just jumped at it, and there was never a chance to counter. So those things happen. And when they do, you just have to keep going.”
What Was the Real Story Behind Myles Turner’s Decision?
While Carlisle’s explanation tells one side of the story, the situation was more complex. The Pacers reportedly weren’t willing to offer him anything more than a three-year, $66 million deal. Turner also acknowledged the move was purely financial, and he eventually chose what was best for him and his family.
Despite the surprise move, no love was lost between the two sides. Carlisle wished the veteran “very, very best” for his next chapter.
“I had a nice conversation with Myles the day after,” he added. “Wished him the very, very best. It was a special relationship that I developed with him over four years. I mean, he played the best he’s ever played. One of the reasons was that he got to play his natural position full-time. And so, that was great for him.”
In 2024-25, Turner connected on a career-high 39.6% from three-point range while averaging 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks. Now paired with Giannis Antetokounmpo and head coach Doc Rivers, Turner hopes his best basketball is still ahead of him.
