The Indiana Pacers have agreed with center Myles Turner on a lucrative extension of his contract, which expires in the summer. This was confirmed by his agent to Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN). So the 26-year-old is probably from the trade market.
According to the report, Turner is extending for two more years and a total of $58 million. This sum also includes a salary increase in the current season of $17.1 million – according to ESPN the highest in NBA history.
The center was previously on the books at about $18m in 2022-23 and is now making $35.1m this season. This is easily possible for the Pacers, since the team was well below the salary cap anyway. He will receive $41 million for the two additional years of his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
Since last summer there have been a lot of trade rumors about the Big Man, who has since offered himself publicly to the Lakers. Sean Marks (also ESPN) indicate that Turner can theoretically be traded before the February 9 deadline even after the contract extension, but this is now considered extremely unlikely.
Woj also confirmed that the Pacers see their center as an important building block for the future. Due to the surprisingly strong start to the season with the core around soon-to-be All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and rookie Bennedict Mathurin, the Pacers decided against a blatant rebuild. Instead, they want to continue with Turner and possibly even strengthen the roster by the trade deadline.
Turner himself, at 26, fits into the Pacers’ timeline and could close another lucrative deal in two years. This season he has set career highs in points (17.5) and rebounds (7.9), and he blocks 2.4 shots per game, making him one of the best shot blockers in the league. He hits 54.4 percent from the field and can also provide spacing with his three-pointer (39.1 percent three-pointer rate).
