The Indiana Pacers have changed the landscape of the NBA trade market with a deal that they made earlier this week. They didn’t make a trade, but one of the biggest trade chips that were thought to be available are now off the board.
Indiana agreed to a two-year extension with Myles Turner that includes a reworked contract for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. All in all, Turner’s new deal is worth $60 million, putting to rest rumors that have persisted for years.
“Definitely there’s a sense of relief knowing there’s some security and you can just play the game,” Turner said following the news conference. “It (the trade rumors) is something I’ve been through my entire career. But I wanted to be here in Indy.”
Every trade deadline and offseason, the 2015 first-round pick heard his name pop up in trade rumors. Had he not suffered a foot injury ahead of the 2022 deadline, he could have very well been on the move.
This offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers pursued him aggressively, but nothing came to fruition. The Pacers also signed Deandre Ayton to the biggest offer sheet in restricted free agency history, which the Phoenix Suns matched.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner & Indiana Pacers Updates
While situations are always fluid in the NBA, this seems to be one that has been put to rest. Turner has now gotten his wish as he is signed through 2025, likely locking him into the starting center spot in Indiana for years to come.
“I think it made it easy, when given the full-time position at the five. That’s something I was definitely what I was looking for,” Turner said. “Given the situation I’m in now where I do get to see expanded minutes at the 5, that was one of the main things I was looking for.”
That spot became available when the Pacers pulled off a shocking deal ahead of the trade deadline last season. They traded Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield. That is a deal both teams are very happy with as the Kings are in a great position to snap their playoff drought and the Pacers now have their new face of the franchise.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner & Indiana Pacers Updates
“As a staff, we were hoping this day would come very desperately,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “Over the last year and a half, since he transitioned back to his natural position, the 5, we’ve seen tremendous things.”
The changes have been fantastic for Turner, who is having the best season of his career. He is averaging 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds, both of which are career-highs, to go along with 1.3 assists and 2.4 blocks in 29.9 minutes per game. His 54.4 percent overall from the field and 39.3 percent from 3-point range are also career highs.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Myles Turner & Indiana Pacers Updates
An injury to Haliburton has led to the Pacers sinking down the Eastern Conference standings, but the future is very bright for the franchise. That is a future that Turner is now very happy that he will be a part of for the long haul.
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