Myles Turner is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and though some Indiana Pacers fans are split on whether they want him to return or not, one thing is clear: moving on from their long-time big man could be disastrous for the team, and it will be incredibly difficult for them to find a legitimate replacement for him.
Assuming the Pacers choose to let Turner walk in free agency this summer following his poor NBA Finals run, they will have to find his replacement, which may be an impossible task. There is nobody in the trade or free agency market that is clearly an upgrade, and there is a very slim chance Indiana will find one in the draft (especially since they do not have a first-round pick this year).
Even if it means potentially having to pay the luxury tax, the Pacers must bring Turner back in free agency, especially if the team wants to remain contenders once Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles injury.
Myles Turner is still crucial to Indiana's success
To put it directly, there is no denying that Turner played horribly in the NBA Finals (and the last few games of the conference finals). In the series, he averaged 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.4 blocks, and 2 turnovers per game. Additionally, he shot 37.7% from the field and 21.4% from the three-point line. With the exception of a few stretches, the Texas native played terribly, and it is fair to wonder if the Pacers would have been able to win it all if he produced even one good game.
Furthermore, many of Turner's flaws were exposed against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has never been a good rebounder, but this really came back to bite Indiana in the NBA Finals. Additionally, he does not provide a ton of offensive value if his shot's not falling. However, Turner is still a big reason the Pacers have been so successful in each of the past two seasons, and losing him for nothing in free agency would be a terrible move, especially since there is no clear replacement available.
Finding a legitimate stretch big who can also protect the rim at the level Turner can is borderline impossible, especially in a year or two as the Pacers aim to remain in title contention. Turner is a perfect fit in Rick Carlisle's offensive system, and he is a great frontcourt partner alongside Pascal Siakam. It is unfortunate that he came up short numerous times when the Pacers needed him most, but they most likely would not have made it to the NBA Finals without him, and that is important to remember.
Moving on from Turner may seem like a good idea, especially since doing so would almost inevitably move the Pacers into the luxury tax, and he is coming off a horrendous stretch of basketball. However, even so, it is crucial to remember that there is more risk than reward involved for Indiana if they do make this move, and there is a great chance it comes back to bite them. The grass is not always greener on the other side, and the Pacers would be better off re-signing Turner and running it back.