Myles Turner is relieved to be able to focus on basketball again after his family’s experience with COVID-19, writes Mark Montieth of NBA.com. Turner’s father had to be quarantined in a bedroom for 10 days after contracting the virus, which made the Pacers center reluctant to support restarting the season.
“I saw it firsthand and how it affected my family and I couldn’t imagine how it’s affected other families,” Turner said Friday in a media session on Zoom. “I definitely wasn’t a big proponent of playing at first. I still have questions now, but most of the questions have been answered.”
Turner changed his mind about the restart after hearing the NBA’s plan to protect the players on the Walt Disney World campus. He turned in some of his best performances of the season just before the hiatus and will be vital to Indiana’s chances of advancing in the playoffs. Turner averaged 15.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.7 blocks in the Pacers’ last three games and seems to have figured out how to be effective alongside fellow big man Domantas Sabonis.
“This is what I do for a living,” Turner said. “It gives me my escape at a time like this. I’m trying to win a championship as well. From that standpoint, I’m all in.”
There’s more from Indiana:
- The Pacers don’t plan to make a roster move even though Victor Oladipo won’t be available in Orlando, tweets J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star. Oladipo will travel with the team to Disney World, so Indiana would have to waive someone else to create a roster opening. Michael adds that the Pacers are focused on “getting out of this in one piece,” rather than making a playoff run.
- Former Pacer Lance Stephenson won’t be an option if the team decides to add a player, according to Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports (Twitter link). Agness reports that Stephenson was close to signing with the Pacers on the morning the hiatus began because of injuries to Malcolm Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb. However, a source confirms Stephenson is ineligible to join the team in Orlando.
- All 17 players who were on the roster when the hiatus began will travel to Disney World, Montieth writes in a separate story. That includes two-way players Brian Bowen and Naz Mitrou-Long. “Having all 17 players may be the most important thing, only because it gives them a chance to spend time together and create some bonds that could trickle over into next year,” said president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard. “And we’re looking at programming things we can do together to stimulate that.”
So Oladipo feels it’s safe enough to travel with the team, but not play?
I don’t understand that either
He’s sitting out because he doesnt want to rush back and risk re8njuring himself. If it was regular season it would have been better spacing and more practice time, now he doesnt have that.
Oladipo played just 13 games during the regular season and only 36 games last year because of injuries. He wants to get healthy for next year.
He has a house he lives at in Orlando. He’s there anyway.
“Michael adds that the Pacers are focused on “getting out of this in one piece,” rather than making a playoff run.”
Then why bother playing??
You might as well ask why any of the other eastern teams besides the Bucks, Raptors, Celtics, and Heat are playing. None of the 5-8 teams will win.
Trade Oladipo and Warren for Hayward
Who get the better deal？
Boston would take that trade in a heartbeat.
Everything is risk now
There is no if for any trade
Heat have been hit too. They all better follow protocol in Orlando. I seems more and more. Winner this yr. Could be a team no one saw coming.
Speaking of Turner. I think he’s a player who fits in well with Warriors. Pacers have shopped him. They could get a nice haul for Turner. Turner is a young vet who is ready for prime time. He’s not great. But is solid and very good for Warriors.
Bleacher report suggest
Warriors get Turner and Warren
Pacers get Wiggins
Warriors have different kind of picks to attach
He’s not tough enough or GSW. Look who they have played at center.
They would be more interested in Sabonis.
Pacers need to make a competitive trade if they’re worried about staying in one piece.
What a pathetic statement, “coming out in one piece!!!”
Has anyone told them they are going to WDW not to a war zone!
Very disrespectful to the army & front line workers who actually have risked their lives for them!
That is the embodiment of entitlement!
That is why IND has never win or will ever win, no wonder PG13 wanted out of a place like that!
Someone has to remind these players that working class people have been at work this entire quarantine period without all the protections they will have in Orlando
If you really want to punish for not willing to play Victor trade him to the Knicks
He’s about to get paid. Playing in a pseudo season isn’t worth 100 mil +