Myles Turner, draughted with the 11th choice in the 2015 NBA Draft, has been one of the Indiana Pacers’ most consistent players. Turner has won two block championships in his nine-year career and has made significant progress since joining the league.
Turner, who is now 28 years old, has emerged as one of the NBA’s finest centres and a fan favourite among Pacers fans. He contributed to usher in several eras in Indiana, most notably the post-Paul George and pre-Tyrese Haliburton eras.
For years, Turner has been the subject of various trade rumours. Nothing came to fruition, and the Texas native is still a Pacer today. Turner has long been seen as an important member of the Pacers’ team, as evidenced by their agreement to a two-year contract extension last year.
Turner’s long stint with the Pacers is finally paying off, as the franchise is once again a contender. However, the Pacers could find themselves in a situation that jeopardises their championship hopes.
Turner is set to enter unrestricted free agency next year and is not eligible for a contract extension, so there is a good probability he will be playing his final season with the Pacers. And if this is the case, the Pacers will have no direct substitute for the previous lottery pick.
The Indiana Pacers do not have a Myles Turner replacement as he enters the last year of his deal.
Aside from Turner, the Pacers are thin at the centre position. This summer, former backup Jalen Smith left the organisation to join the Chicago Bulls. His successor is James Wiseman, who has been disappointing since the Golden State Warriors picked him second overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Additionally, the team features Isaiah Jackson, who has been solid in his three years at Indiana. However, he has not demonstrated enough to be considered a prospective alternative for Turner. The Pacers also have Obi Toppin, who has experience at small ball centre. However, at 6’9″, he is unlikely to become a consistent starting centre.
Ultimately, there is no reason to suppose Turner will not remain on the club in 2025-26 and beyond. However, Turner’s lack of long-term security for the Pacers is a severe issue that might set the team back if he leaves.
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