According to Indiana Pacers president Kevin Pritchard, the team was willing to go into the luxury tax to re-sign Myles Turner, who ultimately signed with the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent. While it is a promising sign that the front office was willing to pay the luxury tax for the first time in two decades to keep their core together, it seemingly does not matter as the Pacers now have to find a new starting center.
For most of the season and into the beginning of the offseason, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Turner would return to Indiana for an 11th season with the team. However, this is no loner the case as he is now with the Bucks. With Turner no longer on the roster, the Pacers must find somebody who can replicate his impact and fit with the team. While not impossible, it will be incredibly difficult for the team to do so, meaning it will be an even bigger challenge to remain title contenders even after Tyrese Haliburton makes his return from his Achilles injury.
The Pacers have big questions to answer after Myles Turner's exit
There was always going to be a risk for the Pacers by re-signing Turner. Doing so would have pushed them into the luxury tax, which is less than ideal, considering they are not likely to compete next year. Furthermore, the Texas native had a horrific NBA Finals run and may be showing signs of regression. Regardless, despite what many reports said and what some fans believed, the Pacers were willing to bring Turner back no matter what, but it did not make a difference.
With Turner officially off the roster, the Pacers have many needs to address regarding their center position. They exercised the team option for Tony Bradley and extended a qualifying offer to Isaiah Jackson, making him a restricted free agent. However, their biggest move so far was acquiring Jay Huff from the Memphis Grizzlies, who could provide a lot of value to the Pacers.
The Pacers will likely use the rest of the summer, training camp, and preseason to decide who will stick around and how they will navigate the post-Turner era. As it stands, it is fair to assume the team will opt for a center-by-committee strategy to begin, especially since it is highly unlikely one player will be able to replace Turner's value, especially right away.
It will also be worth monitoring the Pacers' activity throughout the rest of the offseason. While far from a guarantee, they may still be in the center market. There is a lot to like about who Indiana currently has on the roster, but no matter what, it is going to look like a downgrade for the time being. Adding another center or two down the line could be a good move for the Pacers, especially as they prepare for what most expect to be a gap year.
Next season is looking grim for Indiana, and it will be a while before they find a legitimate replacement for Turner. However, the team has a history of surprising people, and next may not be any different, no matter how things look now.