Despite a seemingly endless stream of trade speculation over the past half-decade or so, Myles Turner has proven time and again he's someone the Indiana Pacers cannot replace. This summer, when he enters unrestricted free agency, they are going to pay him like it.
Pacers fans should be thrilled. The rest of the NBA? Not so much.
Leading into Game 2 of the Finals, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Indiana is prepared to enter the luxury tax for the first time in 20-plus years in order to re-sign the 29-year-old big man.
Reporting for ABC NBA Countdown on the present and future impact of Myles Turner on the Indiana Pacers – and the franchise's determination to enter the luxury tax for the first time in 20 years: pic.twitter.com/EIIynsfYtF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 9, 2025
This seems like a “Well, duh” moment. But it is an open-ended question in league circles. Or at least, it used to be an open-ended question.
Don’t worry, the Pacers aren’t overplaying their ability to keep Myles Turner
Indiana enters the summer $16.7 million shy of the luxury tax line, with 12 players on the books after factoring in the No. 23 pick. That number does not include a new deal for Turner, who seems poised to receive a raise off the $19.9 million he earned this season.
Let’s assume he gets $30 million—about 19.4 percent of the salary cap. That’s not an outrageous number for a starting center, particularly one who spaces the floor, can punish mismatches in the post, and keeps reiterating his defensive value. (Just as one example of his utility on defense: The Oklahoma City Thunder shooting 44.1 percent on twos in the NBA Finals when Turner is on the floor. That jumps to 52.2 percent when the big man is on the bench.)
Still, if the Pacers give $30 million to Turner, they could be more than $20 million over the tax. That’s quite the jump relative to previous spending, and it puts them on the verge of entering the second apron, a line most teams aren’t willing to cross.
That’s fine. Indiana has ways of avoiding the second apron while re-signing Turner, and without needing to trade a meaningful rotation player. Its finances will get harder to navigate as Bennedict Mathurin (extension eligible this summer) and Aaron Nesmith (2027 free agent) require new deals. But for next season, specifically, the Pacers don’t have to make any changes if they’re willing to be a straight tax team.
Myles Turner suitors aren't going to be happy
Any team monitoring Turner’s availability isn’t going to be happy. Though the Brooklyn Nets are the only squad with cap space this summer, certain organizations have the ability to increase their spending power if they so choose.
Other teams, meanwhile, were no doubt hoping the Pacers would get pocket shy, and consider investigating sign-and-trade scenarios. The Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, and Sacramento Kings are just a few that potentially stick out. You can make the case for others, too.
It doesn’t matter anymore. The Pacers have sent a clear message that Turner isn’t going anywhere. That not only ensures they’ll remain a championship contender in a wide-open Eastern Conference, but it significantly hurts the chances of rival squads finding a way to materially improve their own position over the offseason.