The Indiana Pacers are two wins away from reaching the NBA finals for the first time since 2000. They enter Sunday with a 2-0 lead over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
All-Stars Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam are the headliners in Indiana, but center Myler Turner's impact on the team can't go unnoticed. The veteran averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.0 blocks in the regular season and is averaging 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.3 blocks in the playoffs.
A two-time blocks champion, Turner becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Pacers haven't paid the luxury tax since 2005 and they owe Haliburton and Siakam $91 million combined next season.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN is reporting that the Pacers are "hoping" to re-sign Turner this summer without sacrificing their depth.
"Rival teams remain skeptical at this point, having for generations seen the Pacers make decisions to avoid the tax penalty, as they monitor the Turner situation. But internally the Pacers are hoping to be able to keep Turner without sacrificing their outstanding depth," Windhorst wrote.
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner
© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Turner has career averages of 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.2 blocks. He has spent his entire career in Indiana.
The 29-year-old Turner made $19.9 million this season. He signed a two-year, $58 million extension with the Pacers in January 2023. It was a renegotiation-and-extend deal.
It will be fascinating to see if Turner is back with the Pacers next season or playing for a new team.