Washington Wizards Receive: C Myles Turner, G Aaron Holiday
Indiana Pacers Receive: C Thomas Bryant, F Davis Bertans, WAS 2022 1st Round Pick (Top-5 Protected)
This would be a huge statement trade if the Washington Wizards were able to execute it, but the question is whether or not it is enough for the Pacers to let go of one of the best defensive players in the entire NBA. Thomas Bryant will be coming off an ACL injury and Davis Bertans is nothing more than a catch-and-shoot perimeter player, so are they getting enough value in this trade?
Not only is Myles Turner one of the top defensive big men in the league, leading the league in blocks during the 2018-19 season, but he has all the makings of being a great offensive player as well. Turner can knock down shots from the perimeter in volume, as he has shot 35.7% from deep over the course of his five years of NBA experience, and is a threat to score in the low-post.
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With Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal calling the shots and drawing all of the attention, Myles Turner would be able to do what he does best and pop out for three-point attempts in pick-and-roll situations. Given how good of passers both Beal and Westbrook are, there are no limits to what Turner could achieve in Washington on the offensive end of the court.
With him being owed just $52.5M over the next three years, the 24-year old center is a very affordable option for many teams that are playoff-contending teams and teams looking to sneak into the playoffs.
This season, Turner currently leads the league in blocked shots with 148 blocks and could end up being named the Defensive Player of the Year. He is arguably the best shot-blocker in the league and given the potential he has offensively, he could be the third high-level talent the Wizards need to turn themselves into threats in the Eastern Conference.
Now, let’s take a look at if this trade truly makes sense for both the Indiana Pacers and the Washington Wizards.
