Myles Turner has been the subject of no shortage of NBA trade rumors over the last few years. Since he is now in the final year of his current contract with the Indiana Pacers without an extension agreement, speculation has continued.

The Pacers offering Deandre Ayton with a max offer sheet in free agency caught the attention of many around the NBA, considering Turner is already in the fold. Why throw big money at Ayton if Turner is factored into their long-term plans? The Phoenix Suns matched Ayton’s offer sheet — leaving the Pacers with nothing to show for their efforts.

Before trading Domantas Sabonis around last year’s midseason deadline, the Pacers had a frontcourt logjam that placed Turner at the forefront of trade rumors. Now, Turner will have the opportunity to play a more traditional center role with Sabonis being a Sacramento Kings member and Jalen Smith as a frontcourt partner. Most importantly, he’ll play with a pass-first point guard in Tyrese Haliburton.

According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Myles Turner is ‘excited’ to play with Haliburton and to fill a regular traditional center role ahead after being in trade rumors.

For a few reasons, it may be challenging for a contract extension between Turner and the Pacers. He has yet to play with Tyrese Haliburton, and given the team is in the early rebuild stage, committing significant future salary before seeing how the mesh may not be the optimal choice.

Another factor, the Pacers are limited to offering just 120 percent of his $17.5 million final year salary for the first year of a contract extension. Turner could be best suited to benefit from the most favorable circumstances as the sole center in the lineup with a lot of spacing and Haliburton as his point guard.

There is a risk for the Pacers entering the season with Turner, given he could depart in free agency next offseason if no contract extension agreement gets reached. Not exploring a potential trade before the season could pose another layer of risk when considering the possibility of an injury occurring before the midseason deadline, just as it happened last season.

Myles Turner and the Indiana Pacers each have risk involved with either outcome with a potential contract extension. There is value in both sides being patient and maintaining an open mind about entering the season without a deal in place.

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