The Indiana Pacers are inching towards a rebuild, and are open to trading a number of players, according to Shams Charania. One of these players happens to be center Myles Turner. He’s a defensive force, specifically when it comes to shot-blocking. More than that, Turner also shows promise of being a true offensive weapon. This season he’s averaging 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. He’s also shooting nearly 40 percent from three. Take a look at three trade ideas for the Indiana center.
Three Myles Turner Trade Ideas
Dallas brings Myles Turner “Back Home”
The trade: The Dallas Mavericks send Jalen Brunson, Dwight Powell, and Josh Green to the Pacers for Turner.
Turner is from Bedford, Texas, right outside of Dallas. This trade presents somewhat of a homecoming for him. Indiana is also coached by Rick Carlisle, who of course is very familiar with the Mavericks players.
Brunson is the main piece of the trade going to Indiana. He’s thrived off the bench for Dallas, but truth be told he’ll never get a true chance of starting due to playing behind Luka Doncic. Brunson can score in bunches, has shown flashes of operating an offense, and has played very well when given starting time due to injuries. Powell is also a favorite of Carlisle’s, a center and leader he used quite often. It would be no surprise to see Carlisle pick him up as a locker room presence. Lastly, Green was the last first-round pick Dallas made with Carlisle around. The slashing guard remains a project, but his pure athleticism cannot be ignored.
Dallas needs defense badly, and Turner is one of the best at it. He can play the five alongside Kristaps Porzingis, giving the Mavericks a double-headed monster in the frontcourt. Scoring in the paint will be hard to come by for Dallas opponents, and this is exactly what Dallas struggles with the most. If Turner can keep up his hot shooting, it will only get better with the open looks he’ll have on a Doncic offense.
Charlotte Upgrades at Center
The trade: The Charlotte Hornets send Mason Plumlee and PJ Washington to Indiana for Turner.
First and foremost, Plumlee is obviously a downgrade from Turner at center. If Indiana truly wants to focus on a rebuild, though, they’d take his two-year deal to make this deal work. Plumlee is still usable, however. The main piece here is Washington. He’s just 22-years-old and as dynamic as a player gets. Washington can play multiple positions, and play them all well. He has great size and length, which makes him a threat on both ends of the floor. Washington can play inside but also has a smooth shot from the outside. He’s a terrific young forward for Indiana to emphasize in their rebuild.
Charlotte is on the brink of true playoff contention. They have themselves a star in LaMelo Ball, a much improved Miles Bridges, and other solid pieces and veterans. What this team is truly missing, however, is a center. This is exactly why bringing Turner in makes so much sense. He’ll solidify this hole for years to come, be a defensive force, and could also thrive offensively with Ball at point guard.
Golden State goes for it all
The trade: The Golden State Warriors send James Wiseman, Moses Moody, and their trade exception to the Pacers for Turner.
Golden State is playing inspiring basketball right now, and still awaits the return of Klay Thompson. Wiseman has yet to return to the court as well. Knowing how good they already are, it would be no surprise to see the Warriors make big splashes to spend the last couple years of their dynasty going for it all. Turner will fit in just fine here, especially due to his ability to drain threes.
Indiana gets a solid return when it comes to a rebuild. Wiseman was a top draft pick just one year ago and averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game during his rookie season. He’s still healing from a season-ending injury last year, but his potential remains through the roof. He’s a great five for the Pacers to build around. Moody was also a recent lottery pick in this last draft. He hasn’t really had the opportunity to strut his stuff in a crowded Warriors backcourt, but he was a terrific college player and his skillset translates very well into the NBA.
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