The NBA Trade Deadline is less than two weeks away, and Indiana Pacers fans are wondering what the team will do. Earlier in the season, they traded for Thomas Bryant from the Miami Heat to ensure their center depth. They have yet to make another deal, however, and could be in a position to do so in order to help them now and in the long run.
Up to this point, the only trade rumor the Pacers have been a part of is potentially trading for Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson. However, there is another trade possibility that Pacers fans may want to monitor that involves moving on from a player instead of getting one in return.
Jake Fischer suggests the Pacers may trade Myles Turner
On a recent episode of the Dunc'd On Basketball NBA Podcast (at the 21:34 mark), NBA insider Jake Fischer spoke about Myles Turner's impending free agency. While Fischer did not say the Pacers are actively looking to trade Turner, he acknowledged that his asking price for his new deal may not be one the team is willing to give him.
"Right now, every rival executive I've spoken to has said that they don't anticipate Indiana wanting to pay the salary that Myles Turner is, in theory, going to be looking for...he's going to want 30 [million per year]," Fischer said. "People want $30 million right now, it's going to be twice the mid-level... there's so much skepticism that Indiana's going to want to do it."
We are only halfway through the season, and there is no other indication that the Pacers have interest in moving on from Turner. However, Fischer's report is interesting nonetheless. If it is true, then the Pacers may be better off trading Turner within the next couple of weeks to get some value back from him as opposed to letting him walk in the offseason for nothing.
The interesting hypothetical in a potential trade involving Turner is who the Pacers' new center would be. As it stands, the Pacers do not have a single primary center under contract next season (unless they accept James Wiseman's team option, which seems unlikely). Additionally, there is no upgrade over Turner that is readily available, especially one who would be as good of a fit on this team, particularly on offense. If the Pacers do end up moving on from Turner, it would cause even more problems than many may realize.
At this point, it does not seem likely that the Pacers will trade Turner. However, if there is a genuine belief that he will prove to be too expensive for the team to re-sign, the Pacers may be better off making this move, even given the potential risks.