Indiana Pacers: Myles Turner’s future could be determined at NBA Draft

An Indiana Pacers NBA Draft day trade may center on Myles Turner

Before the NBA season began, Domantas Sabonis was the big man mentioned most frequently in Indiana Pacers rumors.

These days, you best not dare to mention Sabonis in trade discussions, no matter how hypothetical. He’s launched his game to the point where he’s been the team’s best player this season and is pretty darn close to untouchable right now.

Myles Turner, on the other hand, is in a spot where he certainly could be moved. Turner and Sabonis have had some struggles adjusting together in the frontcourt, but it’s been Turner’s numbers that have taken a hit.

I’m reluctant to say there is a logjam in the frontcourt. Statistics suggest that there is promise between the two of them and that the pairing can survive and even be effective on both ends.

But again, if the Pacers trade a big name anytime soon, it’s going to be Turner.

There are reasons for and against trading Turner. In a nutshell, Turner offers incredible spacing on the offensive end for Sabonis to get to work and absolutely anchors the team’s defense.

At the same time, you have to wonder if you’re pushing forward a redundancy when you roll out him and Sabonis at the same time. Sabonis has yet to get to the level of defense that Turner has and has trouble protecting the rim aggressively without fouling.

The Pacers have no first-round pick in the NBA Draft this year, they shipped that out in return for Malcolm Brogdon in a sign-and-trade over the summer. There’s an argument to be made — a very strong one — for not making a trade into the first round this year because of the nebulous haze that sits over talent identification in this year’s draft.

Teams can not meet with prospects in person due to the climate of what’s going on in the world these days, and can only gather so much intel digitally. Hitting in the first round will be difficult this year.

Just as is true in every draft, though, talent exists, and the Pacers might want to secure another developmental piece to pair with Goga Bitadze and Brian Bowen. If they want a first round pick this year, it’s going to cost at least Myles Turner.

Aggressively running toward a first rounder is not the right move, but if a trade presents itself centered on Turner with a first-round pick in the mix, the Pacers would be wise to listen, so long as the offering doesn’t begin and end with draft capital.

The Pacers could use shooting, and should listen to offers that include perimeter threats.

The Pacers could use future draft picks, given that they don’t exactly have a boatload to use at the moment and have two outgoing second-round picks in the near future.

For Turner, his future may be determined at the NBA Draft. His play has increased a bit since the deadline came and went and he knew he was going to be in Indiana for the remainder of the season. He could very well see his name in trade rumors again at the draft.

The Pacers will hopefully do what’s right. At the draft, teams sometimes make rash decisions and undervalue their offering for players. The Pacers know this firsthand based on their trade for T.J. Warren with the Suns last year.

If they can swindle a team for a massive package centered on Turner, they should do it. They need to be smart, though, and realize what they’ll be giving up if they decide to let Turner go to another team.