Last season, the Indiana Pacers made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2014. Despite losing to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in a four-game sweep, there was no denying that the Pacers gave them their toughest challenge of the postseason. Additionally, their conference finals run was in the same season they made it to the final round of the NBA Cup, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.
After their successful campaign last season, many expected the Pacers to take a step forward and inch closer to legitimate title contention. Nearly two months into the 2024-25 NBA season, this could not be further from the case.
The Pacers are currently 12-15 and own the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. Furthermore, they have taken a major step back offensively, ranking as the 13th-best offensive team in the NBA. Much of their regression can be attributed to injuries. However, even when healthy, the Pacers look like a shell of their 2023-24 selves.
Regardless of the Pacers' standing, they are a talented team who proved to the NBA world they can compete for a championship with their current roster. While most will look at Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam as the team's most important players, there is also no denying how essential long-time center Myles Turner is to their success.
If the Pacers want to become serious championship contenders, a lot of it will fall on Turner and what he can produce on a nightly basis.
Myles Turner's ability to stretch the floor makes the Pacers an elite offense
Turner has been with the Pacers since they drafted him in 2015. In that time, he has developed into a legitimate offensive weapon. Turner can be a bit inconsistent, and he certainly has flaws in his game. However, when he is on, the Pacers ascend to another level against their opponents.
The 28-year-old is in the middle of a contract year. Because of this, and the Pacers' slow start, many have wondered if the team will finally pull the trigger and ship Turner out. While there are reasons for the Pacers to do this, they overshadow one major reason not to trade Turner--he is a perfect fit in their offensive system.
Turner is one of the best perimeter-shooting centers in the NBA. His ability to stretch the floor is desirable across the entire NBA, which is why many teams have pursued him in the past. This is also true for the Pacers, who play with such an offensive-centric and fast-paced style.
The Texas alum is not the best player on the Pacers, and he likely never will be. However, he is crucial to the Pacers' success. Their whole identity is offensive firepower, which few centers in the league can provide better than Turner. Trading him could be a legitimate option for the Pacers, but keeping him around for the long haul may be what is in their best interest.