Ever since the NBA trade deadline, when the Indiana Pacers refused to part ways with center Myles Turner, it was assumed that Indiana would offer him a sizeable contract to stay in Indiana, perhaps even finishing his career with the Pacers.
Instead, he signed a shocking four-year, $107 million contract with the rival Milwaukee Bucks, prompting Milwaukee to waive Damian Lillard and stretch his salary over the next five seasons in an effort to win now with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way.
Turner was expected to entertain taking a "hometown discount" from the Pacers, although a recent report reveals just how disrespectful Indiana's offer was.
"The Pacers were unwilling to offer Turner more than four years or $22 million annually," reported RG's Spencer Davies. "Turner would have stayed in Indiana for $25 million per year, but the organization wouldn’t budge on the amount, offering a three-year, $66 million contract. No player option was offered for a fourth year."
Turner was asking the Pacers for $25 million per year. The Bucks gave him $26.75 million per year, a sizeable difference from where Indiana was.
On top of that, backup center Naz Reid signed a deal worth $25 million per year to stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Deandre Ayton will take home $34 million next season, although the buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers helped inflate that number.
Even with an insultingly low offer, Indiana hoped Turner would help them out with a sign-and-trade, and then the Bucks came calling.
"With neither side able to come to terms, the Pacers had intentions to sign-and-trade Turner to whichever team courted him," Davies continued. "Instead, the Bucks came to Turner on Tuesday morning with 'an offer that was hard to turn down,' per the source."
While fans can begrudge Turner all they want, it came down to a difference of several million dollars, and after the way he's represented the city, he was right to assume that he deserved it.
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