Myles Turner trade talk? It must be the Indiana Pacers offseason
Welcome to the story Brian Windhorst was trying to avoid.
In his newest podcast, the ESPN NBA reporter discusses potential trades and free agent moves (mostly involving the Brooklyn Nets), but Myles Turner's name pops up at about the 45-minute mark.
The Indiana Pacers big man has been the subject of trade speculation for years, so Windhorst adds a disclaimer ("I'm trying to wiggle out of aggregation here"), but Windhorst added: "There's a good chance he's not going to be a Pacer next year."
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Windhorst and ESPN's Andrew Lopez and Dave McMenamin were discussing Phoenix's DeAndre Ayton when Windhorst mentioned a few possibilities involving the Pacers.
"Indiana would be an interesting (destination for Ayton), because after the Malcolm Brogdon trade perhaps Indiana could create maximum cap space," he said.
Another potential Pacers move is a sign-and-trade of Ricky Rubio back to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Windhorst said. The Pacers traded Caris LeVert to the Cavs last season, and Rubio — who was out for the season with an injury — and his expiring contract came to the Pacers.
Then came the Turner talk.
"He could be traded in a sign-and-trade to Phoenix, or, I have been told he could go somewhere else," Windhorst said.
Myles Turner contract
Turner is a 26-year-old seven-year Pacers veteran who has led the NBA in blocked shots on two occasions. He appeared in 42 games in 2021-22, averaging 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. He is entering the final year of a deal that will pay him $18 million in 2022-23.
DeAndre Ayton contract
Ayton, who turns 24 in late July, just finished his fourth season in Phoenix, averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds. Ayton is a restricted free agent. If he stays in Phoenix, he is currently set to earn a base salary of $16.4 million in 2022-23, but he will carry a cap hit of $31.5 million, according to Spotrac.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers may trade Myles Turner, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst
