Long-time Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner is set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, but according to the latest insider reports, he is all but confirmed to return to the team in the offseason.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, it would "be pretty surprising" if Turner leaves in free agency off the heels of Indiana's second consecutive conference finals appearance.
"Myles Turner was set to be the best center to reach the open market this summer. If he did not return to Indiana, it'd be pretty surprising after a team makes the conference finals for a second straight year to not want to bring back their starting center," Fischer said. "But for now, Myles Turner seems all but destined to be going back to Indiana."
Assuming Fischer's report is true, this is not a big surprise, though it is encouraging for Pacers fans. Turner has been with the Pacers for his entire 10-year NBA career so far, and he provides immense value to the team on both sides of the ball. He is one of the best stretch bigs in the NBA, and his rim protection has proved to be valuable to Indiana numerous times over the past few years, especially during their current playoff run.
Earlier in the year, reports surfaced that the Pacers do not want to pay the luxury tax next season. Given that Turner and Bennedict Mathurin (rookie-scale contract extension) are due for new contracts, this could be a difficult problem for the Pacers to overcome. However, as it stands, it seems like the Pacers will prioritize bringing Turner back no matter the cost, which is 100% the right call.
Myles Turner is crucial to the Pacers' NBA Championship dreams
For the second year in a row, the Pacers are in the conference finals. However, after getting swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics last year, the Pacers are hoping for a different result this time around, and they need Turner to bring his A-game in order to do so.
The Texas native came up big in Indiana's first-round series victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, and he was even more important to the team's upset over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the following round. Turner outplayed Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen on both sides of the ball, which played a big role in Indiana's series victory. As the Pacers prepare to take on either the Boston Celtics or New York Knicks in the conference finals, they will need Turner to play at his best once again.
As the Pacers look to secure their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, it is no secret that they need Turner in order to get the job done. However, their championship aspirations go beyond this year. If the Pacers want to be in the title picture for the long term, it is crucial that they re-sign Turner this offseason no matter the cost. Luckily for the fans, it seems like the front office agrees.