By now, Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers may be the king of the NBA’s trade rumor mill. John Collins of the Utah Jazz gave him a run for his money for a while. He was a constant potential target when he was on the Atlanta Hawks. Now that he’s found a new home, Turner is the most consistent name in rumors.
It’s not hard to see why. Turner is an excellent player, but it’s not just that. He’s also highly portable. This is one of the only reliable 3-and-D big men in the entire NBA. Any contending team that isn’t built around a center could use Turner. So, he ends up in a lot of trade rumors.
After all, if you hadn’t noticed, the Pacers aren’t contending. They probably won’t contend for some time. Sure, this team extended Turner last year. Was that a commitment or just a means of increasing his trade value? If the latter, could the Pacers send Turner to the Golden State Warriors?
The Trade Proposal
Indiana Pacers Receive: G Chris Paul, F Jonathan Kuminga, 2026 First-Round Pick (GSW)
Golden State Warriors Receive: C Myles Turner
It takes a specific type of player to find themselves in trade rumors. It doesn’t happen to stars – unless the rumor is that they’re unhappy. Otherwise, we know teams aren’t going to want to trade the best player on their team. On the other hand, the least significant players in the league don’t typically find themselves in rumors either. Who would want them?
With that said, aging players can often be part of trade rumors. Typically, they’ve got big contracts and aren’t often earning them. So, they can be convenient players to include in trades. Look at Chris Paul. His large, expiring deal could easily get moved this summer.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers & Golden State Warriors Updates
For a long time, nobody would have thought of trading Paul. If he was on your team, he was crucial to it. When Paul was on the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, or Houston Rockets, he was integral to a contender’s success. His value began to wane on the Phoenix Suns, and it’s reached an all-time low by now. Should the Pacers want him?
Why The Indiana Pacers Do The Deal
Well, the Pacers don’t do this deal for Paul. Although, he does feel like a perfect mentor for Tyrese Haliburton. He’s a budding superstar but could learn plenty from the Point God. There’s no question that the Pacers would benefit from exposing Haliburton to Paul.
With that said, they’re mainly doing this deal for the sake of adding Kuminga. If he hits his ceiling, he could be a superstar in this league. Kuminga is a long, athletic wing who can make plays on both ends. The rebuilding Pacers would be happy to add a player with his upside.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers & Golden State Warriors Updates
Meanwhile, who knows who they could add with this unprotected first-round pick? Simply put, this is a rebuilding package for a rebuilding team. Parting with Turner will sting, but for a young team, this is a package worth accepting for him. Should the Warriors offer it?
Why The Golden State Warriors Do The Deal
On the other hand, Jordan Poole didn’t last for long in trade rumors. The Warriors were quick to move him. That makes sense. Poole was having apparent chemistry issues with the rest of this locker room. That’s how the Warriors got Paul.
Is he here to stay? Time will tell. Paul isn’t an intuitively obvious fit with this team. Historically, he’s preferred a slow, pick-and-roll-heavy offense over the Warriors’ fast-paced, motion system. On the other hand, Paul is a basketball genius. This may work.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers & Golden State Warriors Updates
If it doesn’t? That shouldn’t be the end of the world. After all, the Warriors have Steph Curry. What they don’t have is a 3-and-D big man like Myles Turner. Few teams do; that’s why Turner is frequently in trade rumors.
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