Trade rumors are nothing new for Myles Turner, the starting center of the Indiana Pacers who is having a breakout NBA season. For years he has been on the trade block yet no deal has ever materialized. When the Pacers became open to splitting up their jumbo frontcourt ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, many people presumed it would be Turner on the move, not Domantas Sabonis.
Alas, it was Sabonis that was dealt, as he was traded to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for a package of Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson. It is a deal that has worked out for both sides, as the Kings are playing their best basketball in years and the Pacers are far exceeding expectations.
Turner’s production is one of the reasons that Indiana is playing well. He is having the best season of his career, putting up career-highs in shooting percentage, 3-point shooting percentage, points and rebounds.
Given how well he is playing, it is no surprise that the Pacers have shown some interest in ending this years-long charade and locking Turner into a long-term deal. Eligible for an extension, the Pacers can pay Turner a ton of money given the amount of cap space that they have available.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner & Indiana Pacers Updates
However, the door is being kept ajar when it comes to trading the Texas big man as well. As detailed by Matt Moore of Action Network, Turner will be made available if extension talks fall through.
“The Athletic reported last month that the Indiana Pacers and Myles Turner were in extension talks. An agreement would end a four-year prolonged trade saga around the versatile big man. However, multiple sources indicated this week that if a deal isn’t reached, it would finally prompt the Pacers to move on and deal Turner. At this point, I’ll believe it when I see it, given how many times Turner’s name has appeared in trade rumors.”
This isn’t an easy decision for the Pacers to make. They are right in the middle of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference in what was expected to be a rebuilding season. Will their success lead to a change of plans from the front office?
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner & Indiana Pacers Updates
Indiana has to access whether they are better than expected or if this is a bit fluky given the underwhelming performances of other teams that were expected to contend for the playoffs. If Turner is eventually made available, the Pacers should be able to cash in on a nice return.
