The Indiana Pacers have a major Myles Turner problem

Since drafting him with the 11th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, big man Myles Turner has been one of the most consistent players on the Indiana Pacers. In his nine-year career up to this point, Turner is a two-time block champion and has improved drastically since joining the league.

Now 28 years old, Turner has developed into one of the top centers in the NBA and is a favorite among Pacers fans. He helped usher in multiple eras in Indiana, most notably the post-Paul George era and the pre-Tyrese Haliburton era.

For many years, Turner has been the subject of numerous trade rumors. Ultimately, nothing ever came to fruition, and the Texas native remains a Pacer to this day. The Pacers have always viewed Turner as a key part of their team, and this was most evident when the two sides agreed to a two-year contract extension last year.

Now that the Pacers are contenders once again, Turner's long tenure with the team so far is paying off. However, the Pacers could find themselves in a predicament that may halt their championship aspirations.

With Turner headed for unrestricted free agency next year and not being eligible for a contract extension, there is a legitimate chance he is entering his final season with the Pacers. And if this does become the case, the Pacers have no direct replacement for the former lottery pick.

The Indiana Pacers do not have a Myles Turner replacement as he enters the last year of his contract

Outside of Turner, the Pacers are slim at the center position. This summer, former backup Jalen Smith left the team to join the Chicago Bulls. His replacement is James Wiseman, who has been disappointing to say the least since the Golden State Warriors selected him second overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Additionally, the team also has Isaiah Jackson, who has been solid in his three years in Indiana. However, he has not shown enough to justify becoming a potential replacement for Turner. The Pacers do also have Obi Toppin who has experience playing small ball center. However, at 6'9", he is unlikely to become a reliable primary center.

Ultimately, there is little reason to believe Turner will not be on the team for the 2025-26 season and beyond. However, the lack of long-term security for Turner and the Pacers is a serious problem that could set the team back if he does not stick around.