The Indiana Pacers acknowledged a mistake by firing head coach Nate Bjorkgren after just one season. They will have a new head coach, surely a more proven one, and the roster may experience some turnover. A prominent player who could be dealt, as rumor smoke begins to move toward action this offseason, is Myles Turner.
Trade rumors around Turner are not new. Heading into the trade deadline J Michael of The Indianapolis Star reported the Hornets, Lakers, Clippers, Knicks and Pelicans were among the teams with interest in Turner. Michael has updated the list with another possible suitor. The Minnesota Timberwolves.
Could the Timberwolves swoop in and get Myles Turner?
Due to skill or effort/indifference, it’s time to accept that Karl-Anthony Towns will never be anything more than an average defensive player. At times, he’ll be a clear detriment on that end of the floor. So Turner, the league’s leading shot blocker (per game) in two of the last three seasons, looks like he’d be a great fit alongside Towns. Minnesota needs help defensively, and Turner is that.
That said, Turner is not dead weight offensively (12.6 points per game in 2020-21). It would be nice if he was more efficient (47.7 percent from the floor, 33.5 percent from beyond the arc this past season). But he has stretched his shot profile, shooting at least four 3-pointers per game in each of the last two seasons. He has to be accounted for on the offensive end.
The question for Minnesota is how they would shape a deal to get Turner. If their first-round pick this year falls out of the top-3 overall, the Golden State Warriors get it. ESPN’s Trade Machine yields some options.
Trade #1
Timberwolves get: Myles Turner
Pacers get: Malik Beasley, Jarrett Culver
Trade #2
Timberwolves get: Myles Turner
Pacers get: Ricky Rubio, Jake Layman
There are some other possibilities that could include others for the Timberwolves, like Josh Okogie. The Pacers could add someone (Doug McDermott, Caris LeVert, T.J. Warren) in a slightly bigger deal too. Add Minnesota to the list of possible trade suitors for Turner, it’s just a matter of how Gersson Rosas’ offer would compare to others.
