Indiana Pacers fans noticed that Myles Turner's defense regressed last season, and he struggled heavily in the NBA Finals, which could be the first sign of decline for the 29-year-old. And now that he is a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, they will soon make the same realization that Pacers fans had not even a month ago.
There were always pros and cons to potentially bringing Turner back to Indiana, but following Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury (which will likely sideline him for the entirety of next season), the team's timeline has changed a bit. This, in addition to the team seemingly not wanting to pay the luxury tax, culminated in the Texas native's departure after 10 years with the Pacers. However, another factor is that he played horribly when the team needed him most in the NBA Finals, and that could be a sign of what is next in store for Turner and the Bucks.
Only time will tell if the Pacers made the right call
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Turner wanted to remain with the Pacers, but the team's highest offer for him was a three-year, $60 million contract. This likely indicates that, while the Pacers had interest in bringing their long-time center back into the mix, they did not want to break the bank in order to do so. It remains to be seen if this was the right call for the Pacers, who are now in an interesting spot as they need to find his replacement.
Regardless of what ends up happening, there were genuine reasons for the Pacers to move on from Turner. In the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he averaged 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and two turnovers in seven games. Additionally, he shot 37.7% from the field and 21.4% from beyond the arc. Turner always had flaws despite being a crucial part of the Pacers' success, but those flaws were heavily exposed against the Thunder, and it may just be the beginning.
One of the most unique aspects of Turner's game is that he is great at stretching the floor and protecting the rim. There are not many big men in the league who can do both at as high a level as he can, and that is why he was coveted by other teams for so long. However, he struggled to hit his shots when the lights were at their brightest, and it looks like he has lost a step defensively. Pair this with the fact that he was never a good rebounder in the NBA, and things could turn into a disaster for the Bucks.
It will be interesting to see how Turner's career progresses from here now that he has found a new home in Milwaukee. A full offseason and a fresh start may be all he needs to turn things around. However, it is also possible that Turner may just officially be on the decline, and Bucks fans may be in for a big reality check soon enough.