Myles Turner's decision to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency added fuel to the fire between their rivalry against the Indiana Pacers, and Andrew Nembhard just confirmed that.
In a recent appearance on the "Hello and Welcome" podcast, Nembhard spoke about Turner's departure. While he says he is happy for his former teammate after landing a new contract, he also made it clear that it makes the already existing rivalry even more intense.
"I mean, at the end of the day, I want to see him do well, you know? Glad he got paid, and wishing him success in the future... not against us," Nembhard said about Turner. "But for himself. I think it just builds into the rivalry that we already got going. It’s going to be an exciting matchup this year. It’s going to get even better than before, now that we’re not on the same team anymore."
Turner spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Pacers before joining their division rivals in the offseason in a stunning move. Following his departure, Indiana has been tasked with finding his replacement. Only time will tell if they have their guy on the roster currently, but until then, it is fair that they are going to feel the Texas native's absence.
Nembhard and the Pacers will get their first chance to exact revenge on Turner and the Bucks on November 3 in a game that is a must-watch for both fanbases.
The Pacers will miss Myles Turner sooner rather than later
Turner was far from a perfect center for Indiana, but he was still an excellent fit nonetheless. With him no longer on the roster, the Pacers need to figure out how to navigate through life without him, especially if they want to re-establish themselves as title contenders.
The two-time blocks leader had his flaws. When his shot wasn't falling, he didn't provide much offensive value. Furthermore, he was never a good rebounder, and he has already shown signs of regressing on defense. Losing Turner may not be the end of the world for Indiana, and it could work out for them in the end. However, this doesn't change the fact that, at his best, Turner was a crucial part of the Pacers' success and played his role incredibly well.
Turner was fantastic at stretching the floor and protecting the rim. Additionally, because he was able to run the length of the court, he was a great center to pair alongside point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
It is going to be tough for the Pacers to find a replacement for the 6-foot-11 big man that they are confident in, but fortunately for them, they at least have some possible options already on the team.
Following Turner's exit, the Pacers traded for Jay Huff from the Memphis Grizzlies. Huff's skillset is very similar to Turner's, and he may be their best option to replace him next season. Furthermore, Indiana also has a few other intriguing big men in Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman, and Tony Bradley.
The Pacers have a lot of uncertainties they need to address, and most of them are related to their center position. Once they get them figured out, they should be in a good spot. However, until then, they will feel Turner's absence, especially now that he has switched sides and will look to help their rivals in Milwaukee compete for a title next year.