After breaking up their big man combination by trading Domantas Sabonis in February, the Pacers are in no hurry to part with Myles Turner, Marc Stein says on his latest Spotify podcast (hat tip to Jackson Frank of Uproxx). Indiana is hoping to return to contention next season, and the team views Turner as part of that effort.
“Myles Turner, every time I ask, the word I get back is that he’s likely to stay in Indiana,” Stein said. “I don’t think that discourages teams from trying to get him, I’m sure the Pacers are getting calls on Turner. But every time I check, that’s kind of the word I get.”
Turner will have an expiring $17.5MM contract next season, so the Pacers’ stance on trading him could change if they get off to a slow start. He was limited to 42 games this year, missing the final 39 with a stress reaction in his left foot, but he remains one of the league’s best shot blockers.
There’s more on the Pacers:
- Turner offered evidence that he has recovered from his foot issues, posting a video Tuesday that showed him working out with the Knicks’ Julius Randle, per James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star. Turner didn’t do anything on the court in the video, but he leaped over hurdles while holding a basketball, practiced chest passes from his knees, jumped rope and lifted weights.
- Former player agent Happy Walters has joined the Pacers as a consultant, Stein tweets. Walters is an Indiana native who has also found success in music, television and movies, Boyd adds in a separate story. His clients included Dwight Howard, Amar’e Stoudemire and Jimmy Butler.
- Washington guard Terrell Brown Jr., who worked out for the Pacers on Monday, talked to Boyd about the influence of his godfather, former NBA star Jason Terry. “It’s a wonderful feeling to have him in my corner, just talking to me through all of the workouts, showing teams that I can improve,” Brown said. “(He) just keeps giving me confidence more and more. Going into last season, he was like, ‘If you average 20 points, you gonna have a lot of interest.'” Brown is projected as a possible late second-round pick.
- The Pacers hosted six players today for a pre-draft workout, tweets Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files. On hand were Jalen Adaway of St. Bonaventure, R.J. Cole of Connecticut, Collin Gillespie of Villanova, Fanbo Zeng of G League Ignite, Amadou Sow of UCSB and Trevion Williams of Purdue.
Bennedict Mathurin is a name that sticks out the most and a player that the Pacers are very interested in.
Pacers should trade for Julius Randle!
Knicks are almost trying to force him out and he’s an all nba caliber power forward who averages 20-10-5 and shoots the three ball abit.
He’s clearly mates with Myles Turner and they need a PF. Tyrese Haliburton has shown he can play on and off ball and is a lethal shooter.
Forget about resigning Jalen Smith and having to pay silly money for a player you only had for half a season.
The deal Malcom Brogdan and the 6th overall pick for Juilius Randle and the 11th overall pick.
Pacers still have a great selection of wings such as AJ Griffin (possibly), Johnny Davis, Ousmane Deing, Malikai Branham, Ochai Agbaji and so on.
Haliburton Randle Turner then Heild Duarte McConnell Isiah Jackson, Oshae Brissett, Goga and the 11th pick, 31st pick and the 60th picks.
I’d def rather have the #6 pick & Brogdon than Randle & #11. If I’m Indy & I can get Randle without giving up that pick I’d be intrigued but they’re def gonna make that pick. There’s gonna get a big time player with that pick
At 6, you won’t have Chet Paolo Jabari or Jaden.
Your probably looking at AJ Griffin, Keegan Murray, Benedict Mathurin, Shaedon Sharpe etc etc
Griffin and Sharpe both have injury concerns but had they had good college seasons would’ve been worth taking in the top 6.
Whereas at 11 like I said you’ll still have lots of good options. I think Randle for Brogdan is worth going down 5 spots for and you’ll still get a good pick. Brogdan isn’t a top 15 point guard and if you call him a SG he isn’t top 10 at that either. But Randle is a top 10 PF easy, he’s fringe top 5 really.
they can only offer Jalen Smith less than 5 mil because his team option was declined before last year. It doesn’t matter that they have cap and mle. So yeah he’s as good as gone anyways.
Knicks (FO) are NOT trying to force Randle out; that would be part of the fanbase. That’s for better or worse, it’s just the way it is. Listening on him, sure, just as they are on almost everyone, but they’re not shopping him.
I’ve always liked Brogdon’s game (and been skeptical of Randle’s), but health and age, and impact ability, would make even me hesitate to do a straight up swap. Non-basketball reasons could push me to do it, but those reasons have to be articulated by the FO, and, to date, they haven’t blinked, at least not publicly.