The Indiana Pacers must make decisions about how to keep Miles Turner or not.
The Indiana Pacers are in the middle of yet another great season as the top four teams in the Eastern Conference (43-30). As they move towards the NBA playoffs, there is a critical offseason that will determine the future of the franchise center.
With his two-year, $60 million contract set to expire at the end of this season, Miles Turner is set to hit the market as an unlimited free agent.
The Pacers want to maintain his service. But ensuring the big man’s nod is at a cost, and perhaps a sacrifice.
Rumors surrounding Miles Turner began ahead of the mid-season trading deadline.
With him in mind that he was set up as a free agency, there were reports that Indiana was hesitant to meet Turner’s requests and was considered to replace the center.
Ultimately, the Pacers wisely decide to keep the big man, preferring to focus first on this season, where Turner can still play a big role.
Keeping Turner in place for the long term is a major financial challenge for the Pacers. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst realized that Indiana had to jump over some hoops to pull it apart.
“Team sources have said they absolutely want to keep Turner, who is locked up in his 700th game for the franchise,” explains Windhorst. “But Indiana needs to manage cash crunches.
“They are currently projected to be around $22 million below the luxury tax next season without Turner, and he is probably looking for a significant raise on his current $19.9 million salary.
“The Pacers have not paid the luxury tax since 2005. They have no plans to enter next season,” the source said.
“It will take negotiations and manipulation to keep Turner.”
Turner has been part of the Pacers’ plan ever since drafting the Big Man on the 11th pick of the 2015 NBA Draft. He has played a pivotal role in the past 2023-24 of the team’s unlikely East Final run, but he will need to step up again if they match at least the success of this season.
The 29-year-old averages 15.5 points and 6.6 boards, 65 games in 30.6 minutes, making it his regular season so far. He maintained his role as a defensive anchor for the team, tallying 1.9 refusals per game.
Meanwhile, he has had the best shooting season as a pacer, registering a career-high 40.2% efficiency beyond the ARC (per 2.2 attempts).
They are about to enter a major stage in their title-competing route with Tyrese Halliburton and Pascal Siakam, and the Pacers have to do whatever it takes to persuade Turner to continue them.