Pacers Rumors: Two teams eyeing Myles Turner trade amid extension talks

Are the Raptors actually frontrunners in the Myles Turner sweepstakes?

Conversely, Toronto has a boatload of assets that it can easily liquidate if it wants to double down on its reported interest in Myles Turner. From win-now contributors to fringe All-Stars, the Raptors arguably have one of the league’s best casts of tradeable players.

The Raptors’ willingness to dangle away some of their players, however, largely depends on what direction they want to take in roster-building. Despite their current struggles this season, they still have a roster that seemed to be on the verge of becoming a powerhouse just last year, and they may not want to pull the plug so quickly after a meager start to the present campaign.

Still, the Raps can definitely mount more competitive bids to the Indiana Pacers for Turner’s services, hypothetically speaking. From blockbuster trade frameworks involving OG Anunoby or Scottie Barnes (less likely) to less flashy deals around Gary Trent Jr. or Fred VanVleet, Toronto has a lot of flexibility moving forward if retooling is of utmost priority for the franchise.

Both teams should probably not worry too much in terms of making the salaries match, unlike the Lakers. What settles the equation is whether the Raptors want to win now, which will instantly justify their interest in Turner, or improve the roster on the margins, which will rationalize a retooling.