With the Indiana Pacers still at the core of the rumor mill as the trade deadline inches closer, one of their biggest trade candidates in center Myles Turner could easily find himself in another city past February 10. However, his situation on the market may not be as straightforward as anticipated.
After his recent foot injury took him out of commission for almost two weeks now, and he continues to be sidelined as the Pacers continue their freefall in the standings, prospective buyers for his services have been described as more hesitant than ever in mounting an offer for the shot blocking artist.
Pacers center Myles Turner is expected to be sidelined beyond the February 10 NBA trade deadline, sources tell ESPN. Team says he will be re-examined in two weeks, but teams interested in trading for Turner will have to do due diligence on injury as they weigh offers.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 18, 2022
The Indiana Pacers could have a hard time engaging with teams on a Myles Turner deal before the trade deadline
When healthy, Myles Turner is easily a hot commodity in the trade market, since his in-demand skillset, reasonable contract, and ample roster control (signed through 2024) are attractive enough for teams to be in pursuit, especially for those in need of a floor spacer who can effectively function as a defensive anchor.
However, while his injury is still relatively minor, his track record doesn’t suggest a purely optimistic image, either. If the Indiana Pacers’ front office insists on striking a deal for an automatic refresh, they could risk not being able to maximize his trade value, which he can simply build up again if the franchise extends negotiations over to the offseason, which is still a reasonable route to take.
While fans may not be too keen on the idea of the team retaining both Turner and Domantas Sabonis (who is unlikelier to be traded) past the deadline, and understandably so, allowing the lone buyer to seize the apple to satisfy a cursory trade desire is bad asset management.
Keeping both centers eliminates or restricts a pathway for the other young players to log more minutes to salvage a losing season, but this is simply the reality of injury streamlining trade interest and potential returns.
To end, with how things currently shape up, fans should prepare themselves to swallow the possibility of the Indiana Pacers preserving its antiquated frontcourt past its actual expiry point yet again.