On Saturday afternoon, the Indiana Pacers sent a major message to the basketball world and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks to take a 1-0 lead in the first round of the playoffs. The series is far from over, but things are looking great for the Pacers, who may have silenced their doubters in the 19-point victory.
There were plenty of key players who made major contributions in the Pacers' victory. However, perhaps none of them were as notable as Myles Turner, the team's long-time big man.
In the win, the Texas native recorded 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting, five rebounds, four blocks, two assists, and a steal in 31 minutes. Turner made his presence felt on both sides of the ball, and with his incredible performance, he sent the Pacers a clear message--they cannot let him walk no matter what in the summer.
The Pacers must keep Myles Turner around past this summer
This upcoming offseason, Turner will hit unrestricted free agency. While nothing is official, reports early on have indicated that the Pacers want to bring him back. However, the team reportedly does not want to pay the luxury tax next season. If this is true, they will have a difficult time re-signing Turner unless they move another piece or two.
Regardless of the reasons, Turner has proven time and time again that the Pacers must do whatever they can to keep him around. If his performance in Game 1 proved anything, it is that he is one of the best stretch bigs in the league and is borderline irreplaceable. Turner is crucial to the team's success on both sides of the ball, and the Pacers will not find another stretch big who can impact the defense as much as he does, especially not as soon as this offseason.
The Pacers still have a lot of basketball left to play before their season is over, but it is not too early to definitively say they need to re-sign Turner in the offseason, no matter the cost. As it stands, it is safe to say Turner will remain in Indiana, but a lot can happen until the offseason.
For the rest of the postseason, Turner will be one of the more important Pacers to monitor. His impact on both sides of the ball will be essential to the Pacers' success, especially as they aim to go on another deep playoff run. However, no matter how their season ends, one thing is for certain--re-signing Turner should be their top priority in the summer.