After Myles Turner's shocking departure to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Indiana Pacers have one clear decision they can make that almost came to fruition in the past: sign Deandre Ayton in free agency. While Ayton is far from the ideal replacement for Turner, he is still young and provides some value. And if there is any team that can unlock his full potential, it's the Pacers.
Back in 2022, Indiana signed Ayton to a max contract offer sheet. However, the former No. 1 overall pick was a restricted free agent, and the Phoenix Suns matched the offer, meaning this move did not complete. At the time, the Pacers had just traded Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings for Tyrese Haliburton and were in search of a frontcourt partner for Myles Turner. However, Ayton quickly regressed after getting his second contract (which reportedly has a lot to do with his poor work ethic), and Phoenix ultimately shipped him out to the Portland Trail Blazers, who just bought him out.
It is not perfect, but the Pacers need somebody to replace Turner. They are in a tough situation right now, but especially given that next season will likely be a gap year due to Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury, Indiana can afford to take some bigger risks and fliers, and Ayton might just be that guy.
Deandre Ayton has the tools to be a solid big man in the NBA
He is sometimes to subject to legitimate criticism (and a lot of it is valid), but there is still a lot to like about Ayton's game. The Arizona alum is a seven-footer who provides a lot of offensive value. He has a good mid-range game and can perform well in the post. Ayton is not much of a three-point shooter, so he would not be able to stretch the floor as well as Turner did, but he at least has value outside of the paint.
Furthermore, the 27-year-old is a good rebounder and would immediately elevate the Pacers in this area. This has been one of their biggest weaknesses for quite some time, and if there is any silver lining to Turner's departure, it is that they can finally work towards fixing one of their biggest flaws, which adding Ayton would do.
Ayton still has plenty of downsides, especially defensively. Even so, he would be an interesting acquisition for Indiana, who is now in desperate need of a center. It was a move they nearly made three years ago, and fortunately for the team, things panned out. However, following the latest developments, it might be worth it for the Pacers to revisit the idea of adding Ayton to the squad.
Not even two weeks ago, the Pacers were one win away from winning an NBA Championship. Now, Turner has departed, and Haliburton is likely going to miss all of next season. Still, there is a lot to like about this Pacers team and what they have built. They still have a bright future, even if it looks grim at the moment. However, in order for them to get back to the big stage, they need to replace one of their former key players. He alone may not be able to do it, but Ayton might just be the kind of player the Pacers are looking for as they navigate through a post-Turner era.