Before this year's trade deadline, Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner was the subject of rumors (again). This was largely due to the Texas native being an impending free agent. Because the Pacers cannot sign Turner to a contract extension, the Pacers run the risk of losing him in the offseason for nothing. Fortunately for the team, there are not many reasons for the team to expect him to move on. However, there is still a Turner problem that must be resolved.
Myles Turner is almost becoming too valuable to the Pacers
Nobody doubted that Turner was important to the Pacers' success. He is a fantastic shot-blocker and one of the best stretch bigs in the NBA. While he has his flaws, Turner is a perfect fit in Rick Carlisle's system and is a great complementary piece alongside Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. However, the team is almost becoming too reliant on him, which is risky given that they could lose him in a few months.
The Pacers have won five of their last six games with Turner in the lineup. Furthermore, he has the best plus-minus on the team over the last 10 games. Indiana was without Turner for three games before the All-Star break, and his absence was clear as they looked sloppy on both sides of the ball. It is no secret that the Pacers need Turner's rim protection and floor spacing. However, it is fair to wonder if the Pacers could make a deep playoff run without him.
A major reason this is a problem is because Turner's recent play could result in a bigger payday, which is something the Pacers are reportedly hesitant to make happen. In January, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Turner "in theory" will look for $30 million per year in his next contract. However, according to Fischer, the Pacers may not want to pay that deal. Given how essential Turner has been to the team's success, they may be forced to give him what he wants and have a higher payroll than they want.
Regardless of what happens in the offseason, the Pacers have one goal in mind right now, and that is to win an NBA championship. In order to do so, they need Turner to continue playing the way he has. Currently, the Pacers are just four games behind the New York Knicks for the No. 3 seed in the East. If they can jump up in the standings, they will be in a great spot to repeat last year's playoff success and potentially have an even better run.