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

Despite Myles Turner trade rumors once again being a notorious subplot this season for the Indiana Pacers, both sides are seemingly gaining traction to a potential extension, as reports have started surfacing about both camps commencing talks toward a new deal that will keep the big man in the Circle City for the near future.

As previously mentioned, navigating through a Turner extension requires a bit of creativity from the Pacers’ front office. Still, it’s becoming apparent that a renegotiation would be the ideal track to satisfy both camps. That way, Indiana can reach the salary floor this season while retaining flexibility in the near future, even after accounting for a re-upping with the big man.

Two teams reportedly eyeing Myles Turner trade amid contract extension talks with the Indiana Pacers

This news, however, far from suggests a one-way street for both parties. In fact, both Turner and the Pacers keep their options open, whether through a contract extension or a trade, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

"The Pacers are expected to continue to have an open mindset regarding the trade market and are not ruling out anything as part of their direction. The Lakers and Raptors are among the teams that have shown interest in Turner in recent months."

Both the Lakers and Raptors have been linked to the Pacers in varying degrees about a potential trade dating back to the offseason, but it remains to be seen how much they are willing to give up to swoop the longtime Pacer. Let’s take a hard look at each of their decks.

Can the Lakers finally pry Myles Turner away from the Pacers?

So far, most, if not all, trade hypotheticals to the end that Myles Turner lands in Los Angeles have involved bigger packages, the most prevalent of which is a three-player trade that includes Buddy Hield and Russell Westbrook with two unprotected first-rounders as centerpieces slash pot sweeteners.

The problem is both the Indiana Pacers and the Lakers seem very unlikely to remain amenable to such a package—Hield has been a tremendously valuable on-court asset for Indiana and Westbrook’s on-court value, while still paling in comparison relative to his albatross (expiring) contract, has been reanimated after a permanent move to the bench as their catalyst.

The Lakers ownership has also shown every inch of desire to hold onto their first-round picks, which is more than enough impetus for them to close a trade hunt for Turner. Furthermore, LA literally does not have any other avenue for a proprietary Turner trade sans a more extensive package to match salaries.

With all of those taken into consideration, a pathway for a Pacers-Lakers trade involving Turner seems nearly close for good unless both teams suddenly go for an abrupt tonal shift.

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.