Myles Turner signs new deal with Nike, but no news on contract extension with Pacers

According to the Athletics’ Sham Charania, Myles Turner signed a new endorsement deal with Nike. However, there’s no news on a possible rookie extension.

Nike is betting on Myles Turner as one of the NBA’s star players going forward as Tuesday’s news of his endorsement deal was announced by the Athletic’s Shams Charania. In Shams’ tweet, however, there was some interesting wording considering we are still waiting to hear about a possible contract extension with Indiana Pacers.

Shams added “Turner is an emerging cornerstone for Pacers.” to his tweet, and while that’s mostly true, J. Michael of the Indy Star reported Monday that there is no indication Turner or Thaddeus Young are getting their contracts extended.

There are obviously some differences in the situations of the veteran power forward and young center, but the fact remains that if the Pacers don’t give Turner a rookie extension by October 15th, he’ll head into the 2019 offseason as a restricted free agent — assuming the front office extends him a qualifying offer.

While restricted free agency gives the Pacers the opportunity to match any offers from other teams, there’s still risk involved in letting Turner play out the season instead of making a deal now. They do have some insurance, however, as they picked up the final year of Domantas Sabonis’ rookie deal.

The Pacers are making the right move with Myles Turner

While Myles Turner certainly would like to lock-in his future earnings — and at a higher pay-grade — the franchise knows they hold leverage as they play the waiting game.

As Tony East broke down in our Salary Series, there’s little risk in seeing what Turner does this season instead of betting on the leap everyone is hoping he makes this season.

"Meanwhile, Kevin Pritchard and co. probably wouldn’t offer Turner the deal he is looking for at this moment in time. What is the point of offering Turner big money that he isn’t worth just yet? If he doesn’t improve, then you are stuck overpaying him. But if he does improve, you could just pay him in restricted free agency next summer, making it an unnecessary risk to lock him up at this point in time.  Pritchard is almost surely operating conservatively in this negotiation.As for the designated rookie extension that could get Turner a contract equal to 30 percent of the salary cap? Well, if he isn’t worth offering big money to, then he isn’t worth offering a designated rookie extension. It’s that easy."

Even if Turner goes crazy this season, as mentioned earlier, they can match offers from other teams when Turner is a restricted free agent next summer. The only realistic way Turner isn’t on the Pacers next season is another team offers him a contract above his expected market-value, and Indiana doesn’t want to pay.

However, why wouldn’t they want to pay him if he evolves as a player this season?

Chances are the Pacers and Turner won’t agree to anything before the deadline, he’ll play out the season, the Pacers will match whatever offer he is given, and we’ll go from there.

Until then, at least Nike is putting more spending money in Myles Turner’s pockets.