Myles Turner’s tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks has begun with some sparks, on and off the court. Through his first six games with his new team, the 29-year-old averaged 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 blocks while shooting 39.3% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc.
In a recent piece for ESPN, Jamal Collier details some of the inside story behind Turner’s exit from the Indiana Pacers – including a quote that sheds light on the cold reality of the NBA.
“I've always been told when I was in trade rumors, this is a business, this is a business, this is a business," Turner said. "And that's kind of what this decision was for me. It was a business decision. It's unfortunate that it came at the time that it did, but it's a $40 million difference at the end of the day."
Turner clearly never forgot the trade rumors he was a part of during his tenure with the Pacers, and those very rumors likely led to his eventual departure.
The NBA is a business
No matter how much love the city of Indianapolis had for Turner, at the end of the day, money talks.
While there was reportedly a $40 million difference in contract offers and the Pacers front office chose to stay under the luxury tax, according to Turner, there did seem to be more to this “business decision” than just money. There seemed to be a personal aspect: a cold, hard decision that he wanted to be valued like a superstar and paid like a superstar, though he has had zero All-Star appearances and a questionable Finals run.
The benefit in the long run
At the end of the day, Turner took the most lucrative deal and also took personal offense to what might be a simple fact - $27 million per year is a lot for a 32-year-old center, the age he will be in the final year of a four-year deal. Further, it is a lot for a team with a 25-year-old superstar (which the Pacers have in Tyrese Haliburton) to invest long-term in a player that is currently at his peak and likely to decline. That is why he plays in Milwaukee now.
Indianapolis loved Turner, and his departure stung. Even still, it is a significant reality that the Texas native is above average. And he is a “win-now” piece, and not a “long-term core” piece. The harsh business nature of Turner’s departure reverberated through Indy this summer, but the reality is that business goes both ways.