In the NBA, nothing forces outcomes like the sense of urgency created by a player in a contract year. With Myles Turner set to become a free agent this summer, barring any contract extension agreement with the Indiana Pacers, he could finally get traded ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline if negotiations fail.
Sometimes, things drag on for too long. Have you ever felt like a movie was too long? You probably have. You leave the theatre saying, “that was good, but if it had been twenty minutes shorter, it could have been great.” The NBA has these instances.
The situation between Turner and the Pacers is kind of like that. By now, he has been a Pacer for too long. Trade rumors have been circling his name for years by now. With Turner’s contract extension looming, it’s time to move on. If the Pacers don’t move Turner now, they will likely lose him for nothing this summer.
There is a possible scenario where the Pacers and Turner are unable to reach an agreement on a new contract. If so, why wouldn’t Indiana move him before possibly losing him for nothing?
In such a situation, the Brooklyn Nets should aggressively pursue a possible trade to acquire him. With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, reinforcing the defense with a top shot blocker could set the tone. Could the Pacers send him to the Nets?
NBA Analysis Network Trade Scenario
Indiana Pacers Receive: G/F Joe Harris, 2028 First-Round Pick (BKN)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: C Myles Turner
In a sense, it’s strange. Turner is a great player. Why is he always in trade rumors? In reality, there have been a number of reasons. It’s been a bit of a saga. One way or another, the Pacers can always justify trading Turner. At first, it was his fit with Domantas Sabonis that was questionable. The Pacers had two starting-caliber big men on their roster for years. Eventually, they moved Sabonis.
By the time they did, Turner was too old to be part of a rebuild. His name remained in trade rumors. Now, the Pacers are competitive – but Turner is due for an extension. With all the strain between him and the organization, it feels safe to assume the likelihood of him signing elsewhere this summer.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers & Brooklyn Nets Updates
The Nets can’t afford to think about next summer. This is a serious contender – they need to be focused on winning a championship in 2022-23. They almost didn’t get here. It’s easy to forget, but Kevin Durant issued his own trade request this summer. The Nets simply didn’t fulfill it, and at 27-13, that appears to have been the right decision.
With that in mind, the Nets need to function as a contender. Turner’s 3-and-D skillset makes him valuable for any winning team. Still, he should have particular value on these Nets. After all, he’ll maximize Ben Simmons as a ball-handler. By adding a stretch big like Turner, the Nets can employ four-out schemes that minimize Simmons’ shooting woes. All told, Turner could be the missing piece that gets them over the championship hump this season.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Obviously, Harris isn’t the main draw here for Indiana. That would be the first-round pick they’re receiving. For a team in their situation, that’s optimal. The Pacers have been surprisingly competitive this season, but they aren’t contenders. As a young team, they shouldn’t be afraid to take rebuilding measures.
Adding a first-rounder for Turner would qualify as such. It’s also a good value return. With Turner on an expiring contract, they shouldn’t expect much more for his services. At the same time, if the Pacers don’t want to bottom out entirely, adding Harris helps in the short term. In fact, between him, Tyrese Haliburton, and Buddy Hield, the Pacers may have the best shooting team in the NBA.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Meanwhile, Haliburton is the ideal playmaker to take advantage of all that space. If all goes well, the rest of the season shouldn’t be much of a drag for the Pacers.
