Report: Myles Turner Wanted by Pacers 'Long-Term' Despite Previous Trade Talks
Don't expect the Indiana Pacers to part ways with Myles Turner this offseason, even as they rework the roster around young players like Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte and Jalen Smith.
NBA writer Marc Stein reported: "Sources say that the Pacers do hope to keep Turner long-term after they previously weighed Turner-centric trades going back to last summer. Indiana instead traded former All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento; Turner has one season left on his current contract at $18 million."
Turner has seemingly expressed a desire to return:
The 26-year-old averaged 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game this season, shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three. He appeared in just 42 contests, however, as a foot injury cut his season short.
The Pacers have interesting roster questions to answer heading into the 2022-23 campaign, particularly which veterans they choose to surround the young core.
Malcolm Brogdon (29), Buddy Hield (29) and Turner will make a combined $61.8 million next season. One of them might have to be sacrificed if the team chooses to bring back free agents T.J. Warren and Smith and make other additions.
The Pacers will also have to pay a first-round pick next season, potentially a top-four selection, and dealing one of Brogdon, Hield or Turner could bring back further draft assets and young players as the team rebuilds.
Given that Haliburton and Duarte look like the backcourt of the future, Brogdon or Hield feels like more a logical departure than Turner.
