The Pacers and center Myles Turner have opened up discussions about a possible contract extension, league sources with knowledge of the situation tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. Those talks are believed to be in the initial stages, Charania adds.
Turner is earning $18MM in the final year of his current contract and will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer if he doesn’t sign a new deal before then.
With Domantas Sabonis no longer sharing minutes at the five in Indiana, Turner is enjoying the best season of his eight-year NBA career, averaging a career-high 16.7 points in his first 26 games (29.5 MPG). His 7.8 rebounds per game are also a career high, as are his .541 FG% and .417 3PT%. The 26-year-old has provided his usual rim protection too, blocking 2.1 shots per night.
As we explained last month, the Pacers would be limited to giving Turner a 20% starting raise (to $21.6MM) if they offered a standard contract extension. Such an offer would max out at about $97MM over four years.
However, because they’re still well below the salary cap – not to mention the salary floor – the Pacers could complete a renegotiation-and-extension, which would allow them to more than double Turner’s $18MM salary this season (to his maximum of about $37MM) and would give them the flexibility to discuss a much wider range of salary numbers in future years (including a decrease of up to 40% from his renegotiated salary).
According to Charania, Pacers officials have indeed discussed the renegotiation-and-extension framework with Turner’s agent, Austin Brown.
Although Charania says that there’s a March 1 deadline for the two sides to reach an extension, Turner will technically remain eligible to sign a new deal all the way up until June 30. However, teams aren’t permitted to renegotiate players’ current-year salaries after the last day in February. If Turner and his camp are viewing the start of March as the deadline to work something out, that presumably means they won’t entertain a new deal without a 2022/23 salary bump.
Even as they explore an extension for Turner, the Pacers are expected to keep all their options open, including a possible trade before the February 9 deadline. The Lakers and Raptors are among the teams that have shown interest in the big man in recent months, league sources tell Charania.
Turner and Buddy Hield – who has also drawn interest from rival teams this season, per Charania – are considered Indiana’s most obvious veteran trade candidates, though there’s no guarantee that either will go anywhere this season.
Paying big bucks to a center can mess up your payroll for years, unless he is an all nba type center, and even then it can hurt you (see Gobert, Rudy)
Never pay B or C level players max money. It paralyzes your organization for years. I simply don’t understand why owners keep doing it?
Will this end all of that Lakers getting him in a trade. Hopefully.
The Pacers are better than the Lakers so far this year. Why would he want to go to the Lakers?
Its about all those rumors that he was going to lakers in a deal for Westbrook. They are so annoying since Pacers are winning and have a team that should be in the playoffs.
I think the renegotiate to 37M this season and a 4/97 is a good deal for both sides. They seemingly have no intentions of taking on salary this season via trade. Really is 4/134 – but 24.25M/year moving forward is way better than maxing him at seasons end. Wonder if he agrees to that. From the Pacer’s standpoint it would be pretty good – if he maintains this level of production and isn’t injured.
Really think Turner is better off going to FA.
He’s probably one of the bigger names available and for his position probably the biggest.
Plus his skill set (3 point shooting and shot blocking) for his position is sought after especially on championship contenders.
Indy should be looking for a sign and trade at the end of the season that way they can open up more option for Myles and also get something back in return for him.
I think Draymond will opt out of his deal, GSW could possibly then do a sign and trade and give you James Wiseman. That would be great for the rebuild. Heck maybe even in the coming offseason you can revisit the suns and offer a sign and trade for DeAndre Ayton.
Why would Indiana want to trade for Wiseman? There is no way the Warriors can afford Turner. Turner can make more by staying with the Pacers.
1. Turner can make more money but Indy should not offer him the max.
2. Indy could want Wiseman cause they are a rebuilding team. Wiseman is 6 years younger than Turner and fits the timeline of Halliburton and Benedict. Not to mention his potential is far better than Turner.
3. I’m not genius when it comes to NBA finances but if Draymond opts out (25mil) and they did a sign and trade say Turner 3 years 60 mil (20mil a season) for James Wiseman (10m) I think they should be able to fit him in. As the outgoings of 35mil far outweigh the incoming 20mil. But then again I could be wrong on that
Wiseman fits the Warriors timeline; Turner doesn’t.
GSW won the title last season and Wiseman is currently in the g league two completely different timelines
Wendell Carter Jr is putting up better numbers and is 4 years younger and got 4/50 from the Magic. Turner is good but isn’t worth some huge deal.
Imagine what Minnesota’s roster would look like had they gave up a couple of future first rounders, and traded for Myles Turner for rim protection. Walker Kessler and Jarryd Vanderbilt would still be on the roster.
Fire Tim Connelly now.
The fact the Pacers are even considering this is concerning.