Myles Turner Reportedly Interests Pistons in NBA FA Despite Expected Pacers Contract

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner has reportedly drawn interest from the Detroit Pistons amid NBA free agency, despite expectations that he will re-sign with the Pacers.

"There is a strong sentiment among various league executives that Turner will re-sign with Indiana," Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported. "Cap strategists are projecting his salary to land in the $30 million range in terms of average annual value."

"However …We’ve been told to monitor at least one team as a potential suitor for Turner on the open market: Detroit," Fischer wrote.

Shams Charania of ESPN reported on NBA Countdown that Turner is due for a "massive payday" in the offseason, but there is "mutual interest" in a new deal with the Pacers.

"They want to keep this core intact, to make a real run, not only this season but the next few seasons coming," Charania added, noting that they will likely enter the luxury tax for the first time in 20 years after a new deal.

Turner is in his 10th NBA season, all with the Pacers after being drafted 11th overall by Indiana in 2015.

The 28-year-old averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 48.1 percent shooting during the regular season. He has remained steady in the team's postseason run to the NBA finals, putting up 15.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.3 blocks while shooting 52.4 percent from the field.

"After hearing his name in trade chatter for years, Turner has truly cemented himself as the Pacers’ franchise center, their longest-tenured player and a trusty contributor this postseason," Fischer continued. "Indiana does not complete a Game 1 comeback for the ages from 15 points down in the fourth quarter without Turner’s momentous, side-stepping banked triple Thursday night."

Turner has been outspoken about the Pacers’ rebuild since his arrival in Indiana, where the franchise saw five straight first-round playoff exits before missing the postseason entirely for the next three years.

He recalled recognizing that other teams were underestimating Indiana during that stretch.

 "Man … once we saw that, I think our eyes got wide open. I think guys bought even more in, and got even more in that mode of: Every game, every time out, it’s another chance to play PACERS basketball," Turner wrote in The Players Tribune.

The proud, homegrown Pacer is more than likely staying in Indiana after helping lead the franchise to its first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.