In the 2025 NBA offseason, the Indiana Pacers are still reeling after watching their franchise center sign with their biggest rival. The Pacers reportedly had no idea that the Milwaukee Bucks would get involved, and head coach Rick Carlisle says it only happened because the Bucks made Turner accept their offer on the spot, threatening to pull it completely if he did not respond right away.
“Turner is a significant loss for our team. The guy’s been a terrific player; he had a great season,” said Carlisle on the ‘Green Light’ podcast. “We were talking to them [his agent] about this returning, and really out of nowhere, Milwaukee decided to waive Damian Lillard and stretch his money out over whatever number of years you could do it, and they made space to sign Myles. I think what probably happened, and this is part of negotiations in any sport, a team will say, ‘hey look, we have this offer and it’s this much over this many years, but if we make this offer we need to know you’re gonna take it and not shop it.”
Turner, 29, had been with the Pacers for his entire career. Starting from 2015, he developed into a valuable center for them and a crucial part of the team’s identity. Besides setting the tone defensively for Tyrese Haliburton, he helped stabilize the frontcourt with Pascal Siakam. Last season, in 72 games, he averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game on 48.1% shooting.
Following an underwhelming season, where Milwaukee went 48-34 in the East (first-round exit), the Bucks fell under immense pressure to make some changes and prove their upward trajectory for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The work began with the release of Damian Lillard, which shook the entire basketball world.
Despite being seen as the ultimate act of disrespect, Milwaukee said goodbye to Damian to make way for Turner, and they believe it will be enough to make them competitive in the East next season. Whether you love or hate the move by the Bucks, you have to give them credit for successfully using their leverage to sign one of the summer’s most valuable free agents.
While Turner may not be a superstar, he’s one of the league’s best shot-blockers and floor-spacing big men—a perfect fit alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. His ability to stretch the floor, defend the rim, and play without demanding touches gives Milwaukee a new kind of balance it lacked last season.
For Indiana, this move stings deeply, and they are still in shock. Not only did they lose a homegrown cornerstone, but they lost him to an Eastern Conference rival that’s now retooled and ready to make a deeper playoff push. Turner’s departure leaves a major hole in Indiana’s defense, and now the front office must figure out how to replace his presence in a suddenly wide-open East.
In the end, this wasn’t just a free-agent signing—it was a strategic ambush. Milwaukee’s “take it or leave it” approach shows how ruthless offseason maneuvering can be. They moved fast, and in the blink of an eye, pulled off one of the most impactful deals of the summer.
Now, it’s on Turner to prove the Bucks made the right call, and on the Pacers to prove they can move forward without him.
