Pacers center Myles Turner has been the subject of many trade rumors, but for now he’s still in Indiana. Turner told Marc J. Spears of Andscape that he’s got some things to prove next season as he enters a contract year.
“Whether that’s in [Pacers] training camp or whether that’s a training camp somewhere else, I’m going to go and be myself. And that’s all anybody, that’s all I can expect for myself,” Turner said. “It’s definitely a proving season for me. Just proving it to myself, what I’m capable of. “
Turner added that he’s “numb” to trade speculation at this point.
“This is my fifth offseason with trade rumors going on,” Turner said. “‘He’s going to land here; he’s going to do this. He going to do that.’ I am finally numb to it, in a sense.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- Pistons general manager Troy Weaver was initially interested in hiring Rob Murphy as the head coach of the G League’s Motor City Cruise, according to The Athletic’s James Edwards III. Murphy instead became that team’s GM as well as assistant GM with the Pistons. Murphy believes the NBA team is now set up for long-term success. “Our books are in order. We have young talent,” he said. “I think we’re set up for success over the next 15 years if this all continues to grow and pans out how we think it will.”
- The Cavaliers added depth via the draft and three free agent signings. They also signed star guard Darius Garland to an extension but there’s still two big items on the agenda, Kelsey Russo of The Athletic notes. Collin Sexton remains an unsigned restricted free agent and they must also decide whether to pursue an extension with Caris LeVert. Those two unresolved issues are intertwined, Russo adds.
- Becky Hammon, the former Spurs assistant and current head coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, said former Pacers assistant Tyler Marsh has been an “invaluable” addition to her staff, she told Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files. “He’s just another person who’s a rock-solid person, first and foremost,” Hammon said. “So it’s always nice to have those kind of people that you can fall back on as a coach. Because a lot of times you can feel exposed out there and those people that have your back, like Tyler and my other coaches, are something that’s really invaluable.”
I know a writer’s take isn’t exactly inline with a team’s actual agenda but…. what’s the rush to extend Levert before the season? He’s the exact opposite of what we need. He can’t shoot the 3 as shown by his career 33% 3pt record that dipped to 32% overall last year including shooting 31% as a Cav. He’s not as efficient a shooter at 43% as Sexton (48%). And his career assist per game was 4.0 which is about the same as Sexton’s 3.3 in his career but peaked at 4.4 his last injury free season in 20-21. He’s tall but if stats mean anything then his DefRtg last year was 116 which is Sexton territory. Aside from size I don’t see the advantages he has over Sexton, as a starter as opposed to as a backup. Cavs biggest need is another ball handler and shot creator to take some burden off of Garland as a scorer, play the point if needed (at least until Rubio is back) and to spread the floor with his mid range and 3pt range. But why reward Levert for a down season? He’s got motivation to be at his best as he seeks a new deal. Let him earn it. This way if he sucks then you still trade him at thr6 deadline as an expiring contract. But if you extend him an he repeats then he’ll be impossible to move his contract. No need to reward him.I don’t think it would be justifiable to extend him rather than Sexton. I would bank in Sexton having a better performance record over the next 3 seasons.
You can say the same about Sexton.
@Danger
Ummmmm… just showed you the difference. if you didn’t get it then don’t worry about it.