This season, 26-year-old Myles Turner was expected to be on the move for a Pacers team in the middle of a rebuild.
Just a few months ago, he was practically campaigning to be a Laker and was seemingly looking for this first ticket out of town. But now, Turner has committed to staying for an extra two years after signing a $60 million extension.
In a chat with the media this week, Turner responded to the move and explained what went behind his decision to stay.
“It’s still very surreal,” Turner said. “Growing up here, I spent my entire 20s here. It’s incredible, man, to still see the same faces as I did at the beginning of my journey. I have such a strong belief in this organization and this city and what the city encompasses. That’s a huge factor in my decision to stay it. KP said it, I’m just getting started man. I’m gonna tell y’all right now. I’m just getting started. I’m just starting to feel like the best version of myself.”
Myles is the latest in a growing list of players who are staying loyal to their original team. After being drafted by the Pacers in 2015, Myles has grown into a star before their very eyes.
With him locked up alongside Tyrese Haliburton and Benedict Mathurin, the Pacers are shaping up to be a real threat in the future.
Are Any Pacers On The Trade Block This Season?
With Turner officially off the table, the Pacers will likely re-shift their focus to trading away Buddy Hield, who continues to draw interest across the league.
Indiana could still look to make a trade, but the Pacers are focused on making the playoffs.
“They could still trade Buddy [Hield]; he’s been available since they got him,” a different Eastern Conference executive said, “But they’re not looking to tank…”
The Pacers came into this season with the lowest expectations possible and have somehow managed to exceed them all. While Indiana is young and still unproven when it matters, they have the pieces to be a really solid team, and it might only be a few years before they’re competing for homecourt advantage in the playoffs.
No matter which way you look at it, the future is bright in Indy, and securing Myles Turner may have just ensured they keep this upward trajectory for the foreseeable future.
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