The Pacers are in a spot where they need to figure out what they are going to do with Myles Turner. While the newest reports seem to indicate that many teams around the league believe that Turner will stay with the Pacers, there is still a chance the Pacers will need to have a backup plan in the case that contract negotiations fail.
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, the rumors and discussions around the media around trades and potential trades are beginning to heat up everywhere. Bleacher Report’s newest trade watch, links Turner to five potential trade partners across the league. Each would have it’s own pros and cons that the Pacers would have to evaluate depending on how they see the next couple of years going.
The problem the Pacers face is that Turner is playing at career levels this year, and they likely would prefer to keep him if they can. However, there have been potential disconnects between Turner and the franchise in recent years, most recently with the franchise trying to acquire Deandre Ayton over the summer.
If they think they could be competitive even without Turner, they should potentially try to get pieces they could quickly put into the rotation. If they don’t, they should continue to try and focus to acquire draft capital.
Myles heads to Toronto and the Pacers fill a position of need
One thing that the Pacers desperately need is a starting power forward of the future. Jalen Smith is a great player, but at the end of the day, is ultimately a center in the modern NBA. Thus, the Pacers are left without enough speed and defense at the power forward spot. This trade would fix just that.
The Raptors would get an elite defensive player in return for….an elite defensive player. In addition the Pacers would send a low first-round pick (nearly a second rounder) to make the deal happen. The rumors are that OG wants out of Toronto, and the Pacers should be able to deliver on just that with this trade. This allows the Pacers to have the starting power forward for years to come while getting something of value in return for Myles Turner if negotiations fail between the two parties.
Pacers add draft capital from Lakers in return for an elite big man
The Lakers have been the biggest name in Myles Turner trade rumors this season. Most of those trades discussed both Hield and Turner headed to the Lakers in return for Westbrook. Given that Westbrook is seeming to fit in well in his new role and the Lakers recently added Hachimura, they may want to make additional moves.
The Lakers give up one of their two first round picks remaining and some role players in order to get an elite defensive big to go alongside of Rui Hachimura. Turner would also add significant shooting to the starting lineup of the Lakers and space the floor for LeBron do what LeBron does.
Overall this would be a great trade for the Pacers if they know negotiations will fail, however, this trade only makes sense in that case given that the Pacers wouldn’t really return any rotational players of value coming back in the deal.
We would deem this unlikely given that it would require quite a few parties having very concrete views of their future.
The Pacers bring in draft capital and salary in return for Myles Turner
The Clippers have been and are a disappointment. The team owner has spent a boatload of money on this roster and has come up with nearly nothing to show for it. This means that he may be willing to spend even more given he has already mortgaged much of their future for the current roster. Going for Myles Turner may be a smart play for their organization if the Pacers need to move him. Here is a potential trade.
The Pacers would receive a first-round pick, which is far enough in the future that it could potentially be a great pick if they can get it unprotected. The Clippers would get an elite defensive five that could stretch the floor around Paul George and Kawhi, and could also carry the team on the (numerous) days off that both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard take. Covington coming back would be icing on the cake for the Pacers.
Myles Turner heads home in this potential blockbuster trade
One team that always seems to be nearby when there is a Myles Trade rumor being discussed is the Dallas Mavericks, and it makes sense. Turner is from the Lone Star State and still has family there. Going back to Texas for Turner would be a match made in heaven. But doe the Mavericks have the right assets to go after Turner? We think so and here’s how.
In this scenario, the Mavericks would get the center of their future as well as a power forward to replace Wood in their starting lineup. In return, the Pacers would receive a power forward that is much needed in their starting lineup to go with a first-round pick in the 2025 draft.
It remains to be seen how desperate the Mavericks will be to make a trade, but it seems to be likely they are looking to make a move. Luka will only remain patient for so long and this might be trade season the Mavericks decide to leverage part of their future, a move the Pacers should capitalize on.
The Pacers bring back young talent that matches their current timeline
The defending champs don’t quit look like the defending champs, and they might just need to shake up their starting lineup. One way they could do so with the window they are currently operating in would be to trade away some pieces that may still require growth to bring in players already operating near their ceiling so that the Warriors can win now.
The Pacers in this trade would be bringing in two players that still have a high ceiling, but likely still need to develop for a year or two in both Kuminga and Wiseman. The Wiseman experiment hasn’t really worked out in the Golden State, and so coming to a change of scenary in Indy might be exactly what he needs. Additionally, Kuminga is playing great this year and would be the main piece in a return for a trade for Turner.