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For those who want to trade Myles Turner: Stop

By Jonathan Matthes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 31, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 31, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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There is some chatter out there encouraging the Indiana Pacers to trade Myles Turner. It needs to stop.

Driving around central Indiana today, dodging potholes as I went (if any of you have driven South on Zionsville Road toward 86th Street you know what I’m talking about. It’s like driving across the dimpled surface of a giant golf ball laced with land mines), the conversation on a certain afternoon radio show (JMV’s on 1070) resolved around  the Indiana Pacers trading Myles Turner.

Maybe, Dear Reader, that’s you. Maybe you have been so underwhelmed by Turner’s lack-of-all-starness that you’d happily purchase his one-way ticket out of town.

If that is you, I know you mean well. I can sympathize with where you’re coming from. I have been critical of Turner a couple times this season.

That said, trading Myles Turner at the deadline, in most cases, would be a monumentally stupid idea.

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I just want to clarify so there’s nothing lost in translation. In most cases, the Indiana Pacers trading Myles Turner to another professional basketball team is a: no-good, very-bad, overly-rash, potentially-devastatingly-destructive, own-foot-shooting, hold-my-beer-while-I-try-to-jump-Springfield-Gorge-on-a-skateboard terrible idea.

Before we elaborate, I want to hedge this. I said “in most cases” because obviously every player has a price. If Golden State calls Indiana up and says, “Hey Indy, we know you guys have two promising young centers. We were wondering if we might ease that logjam by taking Myles off your hand for, I dunno, Stephen Curry annnnnnddddd Draymond Green?”

In that never-gonna-happen case, yes, trade him. However, no real-life scenario is going to be worth the risk. So here’s some of the major reasons why trading Myles, in most cases, is a dumb idea.

  • He’s 21. The same age bracket as Purdue’s Isaac Haas. Turner has a ton of basketball still ahead of him, and a lot of personal grow still lurking in the future. Given more time he may very well, develop into the all-star he’s expected to become.
  • His interior defense is arguably the class of the NBA. His 2.18 blocks per game, would be second place behind the 2.33 rejections that New York’s Kristaps Porzingis averages, except Turner hasn’t played enough games yet to qualify.
  • While some of you might say: “Exactly, he’s never plays because he’s hurt all the time.” Seriously? He just played 81 games last year. And the 176 games that Turner has played, over his three year career, is still 108 more than the 68 Joel Embiid has played over his first four seasons. Just because he’s been hobbled this year doesn’t necessarily mean he will be forever.
  • He’s 21. Remember Rik Smits? Smits averaged 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game over his first five seasons. People wanted him gone. But the Pacers stayed the course with its young center, let him grow and develop. Smits rewarded their faith by averaging 17.2 points and 6.9 rebounds over his five-year prime.
  • Turner wants to be a Pacer, you don’t rip your pants celebrating for a team you’re clearly eager to leave to play in Los Angeles, or wherever.
  • He. Is. Twenty-One. Years. Old. You’d think the Pacers should have a masters degree on what can happen when you give up on young players too soon. Indiana didn’t get Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis because they had to pry them from Oklahoma City’s cold-dead figures. Both Orlando and the Thunder gave up on the pair which was great for Indy.

Forgoing the promise of Turner’s future for some random guy, would provide a minuscule addition to the roster with the potential of irrevocably destroying what could be a glorious future.

Next: Victor Oladipo's evolution as a teammate

There is no one-time all-star available on the trade market, nor any collection of role players that are worth giving up on that. Period.

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