The Indiana Pacers lost Myles Turner for nothing in free agency, and not sending him to the Milwaukee Bucks in a sign-and-trade could prove to be a disaster.
After 10 years with Indiana, their long-time center moved on this offseason in a shocking move. Heading into his free agency, many expected Turner to remain with the Pacers or, at the very least, the team would move on from him in a sign-and-trade if he opted to go elsewhere. Though it mostly seems like this missed opportunity was on Turner, that does not make it any less difficult for the Pacers.
Though his value likely dropped following disappointing performances in the conference finals and NBA Finals, getting something for Turner would have helped the Pacers tremendously as they look to replace him. Instead, they will now be tasked with finding a new starting center after their former big man left them high and dry.
The Pacers have a unique solution to their center problem
With Turner no longer in the mix, the Pacers desperately need to figure out what is going to be next for their center situation. And, as it stands, it seems like they have a solution, though it is not an ideal one.
Instead of committing to a one-for-one replacement for the Texas native, the Pacers are opting to run a center-by-committee with Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman, and potentially Tony Bradley. Given that next season is going to be all about experimenting for Indiana, this seems like as good a time as any to take this opportunity, especially since head coach Rick Carlisle has experience with center committees.
While this could provide some intrigue in Indiana, the situation is still far from ideal. None of their big men options are established starters on championship-contending teams, and if none of them stand out next season, the Pacers might be right back to square one.
Despite his flaws, Turner was a fantastic center for the Pacers. He could protect the rim, stretch the floor, and run the court. Turner was a great fit in Indiana's system, especially alongside Pascal Siakam, so losing him for nothing is a tough development that could hurt the team in the long run.
On the flip side, however, there are reasons to think his departure could ultimately work out for the Pacers.
While Turner was a good fit with the Pacers, he was far from a perfect center, and this was made clear towards the end of his run with the team. The 6-foot-11 big man seemingly regressed on the defensive side of the ball, and it became obvious that he does not provide much offensive value if his three-ball isn't falling. This, combined with the fact that signing him likely would have moved them into the luxury tax, means there is a chance that his decision to leave could eventually help the Pacers more than hurt them.
Regardless of what ends up happening, it is fair to say that Indiana is in a tough position. They need to replace their long-time big man after 10 years, and it may be a while before they can confidently say they did that. Either way, Turner's departure raises a lot of problems for the Pacers, and they may take a long time to fully figure things out.