The Indiana Pacers have some big decisions to make in the coming weeks and months. Easily the biggest will be what to do with starting center Myles Turner. He has been involved in NBA trade rumors for years, but the franchise may change its stance as he plays out an expiring contract.
As shared by Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Pacers and Turner are exploring a possible extension. The two sides engaging in talks shouldn’t be too surprising given how well Turner has played this season now that he is healthy and playing alongside an upgrade at the point guard position.
Turner, like many of his teammates, has benefitted from the addition of Tyrese Haliburton in the backcourt. Haliburton was acquired from the Sacramento Kings in the Domantas Sabonis blockbuster ahead of the trade deadline and Turner’s production this season has been taken to another level.
He is averaging 16.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.1 blocks in 29.4 minutes per game. The points and rebounds would be a career-high, while he is also having the best shooting season of his career, making 54 percent of his shots overall and 41.3 percent from 3-point range.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner & Indiana Pacers Updates
As shared by Charania, Turner has a chance to cash in should the two sides agree to an extension during the season because Indiana remains under the salary cap and has money to spend.
“The Pacers have the ability to reach a renegotiation-and-extension with Turner due to currently having roughly $25 million in salary cap space. The Pacers can offer Turner up to $19.1 million more this year on top of his $18 million salary to get him to his individual max of $37.1 million for the 2022-23 season alone, and then drop his salary in the following seasons of a potential new contract.”
If that is something that the Pacers are truly open to doing, it would be hard to envision Turner turning down such a contract. He is putting himself in a position to cash in as a free agent and if Indiana is willing to pay him near max money, Turner would have to think long and hard about accepting such an offer.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner & Indiana Pacers Updates
While extension talks are being held, it should also be noted that Indiana is keeping its options open. Extension negotiations are in the early stages and the team is not closing the door on making a trade centered around Turner, as they aren’t backing themselves into a corner.
If neither an extension nor trade is agreed to, Turner will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. His market would likely be a robust one as his skill set is one that teams covet at the center position.
