The Indiana Pacers are looking to trade center Myles Turner near the trade deadline if extension talks fall short before then.
Report: Pacers expected to trade Myles Turner at deadline if extension is not reached https://t.co/BiMvlei6Oy
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) January 5, 2023
Turner was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 11th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of the University of Texas. Entering his eighth season, Turner is having one of the best seasons of his career. Turner’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and the Pacers could take advantage of trading him before he wears out.
These reports have been going on since the Pacers have not competed in recent years. Turner is one of the best young centers in the NBA. He is only 26 years old. He appears to be increasing the trade value of him this season. Turner is averaging a career-high in points per game at 16.7. He’s also averaging quietly career-highs in rebounding and three-point percentage. Turner is also a threat on the defensive end. He is a blocking machine averaging 2.3 blocks this season. He once averaged a league leading 3.4 blocks per game in the 2020-2021 season.
Teams could definitely use the stretch five abilities of Myles Turner and a more contending team right now. Currently, the Indiana Pacers have focused more on rebuilding. Since trading big man Domontas Sabonis for Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers now have a solid young core. Turner seems not to be out of his future plans.
One team in mind is obviously the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are in win mode now and could definitely use some more big man depth. The Lakers have been on Turner in the past, but haven’t had the assets to trade. They haven’t yet but they are more desperate than ever to win another championship. He would help this Lakers team with injury-prone Anthony Davis.
The Indiana Pacers are -115 away from making the playoffs according to NBA betting sites. Perhaps the Turner trade will be further solidified in rebuild mode.
