Myles Turner – Indiana Pacers
Enes Kanter is set to become a free agent and Jusuf Nurkic will be in the final year of his deal, which is why the Trail Blazers could look to add one of the best and undervalued frontcourt players in the league to their roster.
Myles Turner has seen his name in a ton of NBA trade rumors over the months and in Portland, could be the final piece they need to finally be one of the teams to beat in this league. This season, Turner currently leads the league in blocked shots, even though he has missed eight games now due to injuries.
This would be a huge statement trade if the Portland Trail Blazers 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. Turner has been the anchor of Indiana’s defense for years now and they may not be too keen on the idea of trading him in the offseason.
Adding him to a team that really struggled defensively in the Trail Blazers could really make a difference for them. Portland is one of the worst defensive teams in the league, but with the addition of Myles Turner, they could definitely make strides to improve on that area of the floor.
Not to mention, Myles Turner has the ability to be a very effective player in Portland’s system. While Nurkic and Kanter are mainly only big guys who can command the paint, Myles Turner can do that and then also step out on the perimeter and knock down a three-point shot.
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In pick-and-roll sets with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, Myles Turner could thrive in stepping out on the perimeter and being on the receiving end of a pass from either of the Trail Blazers’ two guards to knock down a perimeter shot.
With him having two years left on his deal after this season, there is not an immediate need for the Pacers to trade Myles Turner and they do not want to trade him, but if they can get a solid amount of value for him right now, they would definitely entertain the idea.
For Portland to pull off this deal, they’d likely have to be willing to trade both Jusef Nurkic and Robert Covington, plus a future draft pick or two. This is a big asking price for Myles Turner, but adding the young shot-blocker could be the final piece to Portland’s long championship puzzle.
