Myles Turner was on the trade block for most of his time with the Indiana Pacers, and the team may have been trying to get him on a bargain contract this offseason to avoid paying the luxury tax. Ultimately, the Texas native got his contract from a rival in the Milwaukee Bucks, and there are reasons to think Indiana is to blame. However, all of this has gone out the window following his comments after his departure, and fans are even more justified in their dislike for Turner than they were before.
Turner has burned the Pacers numerous times since he left the team, and there are solid reasons for the fanbase not to support him anymore. This is especially true given that his sudden departure has put the Pacers in a tough spot as they look to replace him.
Fortunately for the Pacers and the fanbase, they now know exactly when they will have their first opportunity to exact revenge on their former long-time center. His departure may have been enough reason for fans to completely change their feelings about him, but even if it wasn't, everything that came after the fact certainly was.
Myles Turner has put the Pacers in a rough spot
With Turner gone, the Pacers now must find a legitimate replacement for him as they look to remain in title contention. Though he was far from a perfect center (this was evident during the NBA Finals), the 29-year-old was a good fit in Indiana due to his ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim. However, the Pacers now need to find a way to replace him and his value.
As it stands, the expectation is that Indiana will rely on a center-by-committee and utilize multiple big man options to replace Turner's value. It's not ideal, but it might be the team's best option since it is going to be very difficult for them to find a one-for-one replacement for him.
At the moment, it is looking like the Pacers will rely on Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and James Wiseman (and potentially Tony Bradley, though unlikely) to fill the void at center that Turner left. All these players provide value one way or another, but it will be important for the Pacers to find a clear replacement for their former center since they want to stay competitive.
There are reasons to believe that moving on from Turner is actually a good thing for the Pacers. It is too early to know that for sure, but there is a good chance that it works out better for Indiana than many anticipate. Regardless, for the time being, Pacers fans are unhappy with Turner and the way he handled his departure, and this is completely justified.