Former Lottery Pick Signs Deal with the Bucks
Longtime Pacers center Myles Turner played out the final year of his contract with Indiana this season. Despite trade rumors that come around him every trade deadline, the Pacers have held on to the former lottery pick as they aim to take the next step with the young, exciting core led by Tyrese Haliburton, along with Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, and recently acquired veteran forward Pascal Siakam to pair with him. The six-foot-11 big man helped Indiana conclude the regular season with a 50–32 record, securing the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, and leading Indiana to the Eastern Conference Finals each of the past two seasons. Turner's contract status became a focal point, agreeing to a four-year, $107 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Turner, the 11th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, has dedicated his entire 10-year career to the Pacers. Now, Devin Booker with the Phoenix Suns is the only player from that draft class who is still with his original team. Renowned for his elite shot-blocking, leading the league in blocks two times in his career, and the evolution of his three-point shooting, Turner has long been a defensive cornerstone for Indiana. Speculation swirled around February’s trade deadline, with several big-man-needy teams showing interest. However, the Pacers never appeared inclined to trade him, showing confidence in their ability to negotiate a new contract extension this offseason. Yet, Turner agreed to a huge deal with Milwaukee.
In the 2024–25 regular season, Turner appeared in 72 games, averaging 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He shot 48.1% from the field and an impressive 39.6% from beyond the arc. Earlier in his career, Turner often struggled to find a consistent role while sharing the frontcourt with Domantas Sabonis. However, after Sabonis was traded to the Sacramento Kings in 2022, Turner stepped into a more defined role and responded with career highs in both scoring and rebounding. The Pacers currently lack depth at the center position, and replacing Turner in free agency would be a major challenge given the limited options on the market this offseason.
