Why The Indiana Pacers Do The Deal

Let’s judge Myles Turner’s value in relation to Christian Wood’s. Since each plays the same position and is in a similar tier of players, that feels like the fairest comparison.

Wood is a marginally better offensive player. He shoots a higher percentage from distance, and he’s a more reliable lob threat in pick-and-roll action as well. On the other hand, he isn’t comparable to Turner on defense.

In fact, that gap is much wider than the offensive gap. Turner is a high-end rim protector whereas Wood is a poor one. Furthermore, Turner does provide floor-spacing, even if less reliably. All told, he’s a more valuable NBA player.

Having said that, the Pacers are also getting a better return here than the Rockets got for Wood. They’re receiving a high-ceiling young player in Boston Jr. and an unprotected future-first where the Rockets got a selection that had already conveyed at 26th.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: This Clippers-Nets Trade Sends Kyrie Irving To LA

The Clippers’ 2027 pick is a more valuable asset. Who knows where they’ll be in five years? Which, of course, begs the question: can they afford to part with it in exchange for Turner?