Indiana Pacers star big man Myles Turner is on the brink of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in his career, which may not be that much of a surprise. But what is a surprise is that Turner is hoping to do so with the very team that drafted him back in 2015.
Yes, Turner has been in the NBA for a decade now and, despite having been the focal point of trade rumors for at least half of those years, he is still a member of the Pacers. But he's heading into a strange spot--despite averaging 15.6 points and 2.0 blocked shots, and despite shooting a career-high 39.6% from the 3-point line, Turner is about to be a full-fledged NBA free agent.
In a lot of years, that would be a good thing, especially as Turner is now bona fide as one of the best-shooting big men in the NBA. But this summer, with cap space being at a premium, Turner will be hard-pressed to find a suitor presenting an option outside of a return to the Pacers.
May 23, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) controls the rebound against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) in the first half during game two of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) controls the rebound against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3).
Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Enter one of the team's old rivals: the Pistons.
While looking at Detroit's desire to add a floor-spacing big man this summer, veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein notes that Turner--in addition to Minnesota's Naz Reid--will be a top target.
Stein wrote on Saturday: "Detroit is known to covet a floor-spacing big man and, according to sources, is likewise said to hold interest in Indiana's Myles Turner. Whether the Pistons have a tangible shot at acquiring either player, mind you, is far from clear."
Turner is widely expected to re-sign with the Pacers, even if it means Indiana going into the luxury tax, which Stein notes, it has not done since the tax's advent in 2005.
Turner is in the final year of a two-year, $41 million contract with the Pacers. He is still only 29 years old, and will require a significant raise to keep him in place.