What this trade means for the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks
Trading Myles Turner this season would obviously mean that the Indiana Pacers are rebuilding, but this would also mean that they are looking for guys who can help them become a playoff contender again in the future.
Kemba Walker is a former All-Star, but he is 31-years-old and has durability concerns because of his past knee injuries. Mitchell Robinson is a young building block they can add in their frontcourt, but he is in the final year of his contract and the Pacers would have to pay him long-term this upcoming offseason.
Are these two risks Indiana is willing to take, especially since the first-round pick they would also get from New York is in 2024 and Top-10 protected?
The answer is probably no at this time, especially since the New York Knicks would not be the only team interested in trading for Myles Turner.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: People Within Knicks’ Front Office Likes Pacers’ Myles Turner
The Indiana Pacers should be able to get one or two young prospects for Turner, as well as a draft pick or two from other teams around the league, which is why unless the Knicks are willing to part ways with Obi Toppin or Immanuel Quickley, they most likely have no shot at landing Myles Turner in a trade.
This however should not stop them from pursuing him. Turner could do a lot of things on both ends of the court to help the Knicks get out of their current “funk” and make it back to the playoffs.
Between being one of the league’s top shot-blockers and excelling at stepping out on the perimeter in pick-and-roll sets to knock down three-pointers in succession, Myles Turner is a great modern-day big man that could help elevate this Knicks team back to being a force defensively, while also continuing to find ways to improve on offense.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: People Within Knicks’ Front Office Likes Pacers’ Myles Turner
There is no downside to trading for Turner, but at the same time, the Knicks do not want to sacrifice their best young talents to add another center to their roster.
Mitchell Robinson, Nerlens Noel, and Taj Gibson have held things down and they are not the main problem with this team right now.
Perimeter defense has killed the New York Knicks all season long, which is why looking to add more diverse talent on the wing could be more important for this team than trying to find another big man.
