Myles Turner is eligible for a rookie scale extension and Thaddeus Young has the ability to sign a veteran extension, but new deals don’t appear imminent for either player, writes J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star. Turner isn’t talking much about his situation, suggesting that his focus is on “winning games,” but Young expressed a desire to remain with the Pacers for the long term.
“I’ve always said I want to remain here and my family likes it here. They ask me every day, ‘Are we leaving?'” Young said. “They understand that I’m on the last year of my contract. They love it here. They want to stay here. I want to stay here. It’s just a matter of just trying to figure things out. I’m not really worried too much about that.”
Young could have opted out of his contract and tried to negotiate a new deal with the Pacers over the summer, but chose to pick up his player option in the hopes that he’ll be able to work out something with Indiana during the 2019 offseason. As for Turner, he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency next July if he and the Pacers don’t agree to terms on an extension by October 15.
Here’s more from out of Indiana:
- The Pacers have a potential opening on their 15-man roster and will be on the lookout for a second two-way player as well, after C.J. Wilcox went down with a season-ending Achilles tear. According to president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard, Indiana will be “watching the waiver wire” for potential fits before the season gets underway. J. Michael has the details in another article for The Star.
- Seven of the Pacers’ nine highest-paid players are entering contract years, but the club doesn’t intend to let those contract situations impact its chemistry, as Mark Montieth of Pacers.com writes. “We’re not going to get caught up in individuals playing for contracts,” head coach Nate McMillan said on Tuesday. “That’s not going to happen. You’ll be an outcast if you play that style of basketball.”
- Back at The Indianapolis Star, J. Michael breaks down the impact that newcomers Tyreke Evans, Doug McDermott, and Kyle O’Quinn could have on the Pacers this season, as the team looks to build on last season’s 48-win showing.
- In case you missed it, the Pacers indicated earlier this week that they intend to pick up the 2019/20 rookie scale options for Domantas Sabonis and T.J. Leaf.
I don’t see the Pacers offering Myles Turner over $18mm with Oladipo at $20mm. Pritchard has been saying he’d have a roster full of good $12mm players than a couple superstars. He says when the stars leave, they set you back 3-4 years. It’ll be interesting to see if the Pacers play Sabonis and Turner together for 25-30 minutes a game like Pritchard and McMillan want to. Pritchard says he won’t be making any trades for a while. He likes the chemistry.
Pacers.com (NBA.com) has a replay of all the Pacers media day press conferences.
I love the culture Nate is building in Indiana.
McMillan said he’s hoping Turner and Sabonis adding strength this summer will improve their rebounding (26th last season). Turner looks like a he man. Like Kyrie and LeBron, Oladipo got the team together (except Bogdonavich who was qualifying for the FIBA tournament) in Miami. Miami must be the new summer training camp for the NBA.