In addition to the Pistons, the Hawks are among the teams who have interest in center Myles Turner, reports Grant Afseth of RG.org. Turner, currently vying for a championship with the Pacers, will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Reports in recent weeks have repeatedly indicated that the Pacers and Turner have interest in working out a new deal and that Indiana is willing to become a taxpayer for the first time since 2006 in order to make it happen. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) wrote on Sunday that there’s “strong sentiment” among league executives that Turner will remain in Indiana, with cap strategists projecting a deal in the range of $30MM per year.
However, Afseth says the Hawks are “monitoring Turner’s situation closely,” with their own veteran centers Clint Capela and Larry Nance Jr. headed for unrestricted free agency this offseason.
Even with Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Dyson Daniels wreaking havoc on the perimeter, Atlanta ranked just 18th in defensive rating in 2024/25. The team also came in at No. 18 in three-point percentage. Turner, a big man who can space the floor (.396 3PT% in 2024/25) and protect the rim (2.0 BPG), would be a major asset on both ends of the court.
Still, if the Pacers are committed to retaining Turner and he doesn’t want to go anywhere, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which he ends up in Atlanta. The Hawks don’t project to have cap room this summer, so barring some significant cost-cutting moves, the club would need Indiana’s cooperation to acquire Turner via sign-and-trade, which seems unlikely.
Since the Pacers hold Turner’s Bird rights, they’ll have the ability to offer any amount up to his maximum salary if they’re comfortable paying the associated luxury tax penalties.
Turner is going nowhere
Put out the 4/120 Indy and work on the rest later . All their players are in the green and with teams using the MLE as a trade exception just as much as a free agent tool you can always re-configure below the tax line at a later date if need be
Keep eyeing nobody wants that crap franchise.
Not going anywhere. Remember when Pacers restructured this current Turner Contract when had space, massively front loading. Obviously didn’t have to do that and no doubt sits well with Myles. You scratch my bad I’ll scratch yours. Only way Turner leaves Indy is via trade the Pacers can’t turn down.
Why? Okongwu is younger and is signed through 2028 for a lot smaller salary than Turner will command.
The part where Indiana said they’d happily go into tax territory to resign him seems like a fair clue.
If Turner signs 4-year $120 million contract, Pacers does not need to pay luxury tax.
First year salary $26 mm and get rid of Tony Bradley
I’d rather we just ride with Onyeka, resign either Clint or Nance & trade up with Toronto for Derik Queen if he’s still there at 9 (13 & 22 for 9 & a future 2nd). Or if we want a Myles Turner type we can go get an even better version in DeAndre Ayton. Scoot, Ayton & a pick for Trae makes everybody happy.
You will certainly run into a lot less interference obtaining Ayton that’s for sure
Myles is gonna be a UFA so most interference we run into acquiring him will be on our side. Ayton would be sorta tough to acquire unless we trade Trae for him bc of his salary. But that’s exactly what I wanna see happen so I guess time will tell.
Agreed. Ayton can be got for hawks.
Except the Blazers, ofc
“Even with Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Dyson Daniels wreaking havoc on the perimeter, Atlanta ranked just 18th in defensive rating in 2024/25. The team also came in at No. 18 in three-point percentage.”
If this doesn’t tell you Okongwu is not a Center. Then you will never know what the position means.
Now Sarr and Okongwu could of made up a big front line. Especially with Johnson at SF. Remember Sarr wanted no part of Hawks ….
Hawks with 13th pick this year could luck out with a big there. They have the 22nd pick also. Both are solid picks in this draft. That can bring in team needs
Will you at least admit that he does currently start in the NBA at 5 & has played the 5 exclusively for his entire basketball career, going back to 9th grade? And that he’s played the 5 well enough to lead his team to multiple CA state HS titles, earn a scholarship to USC as a 5, become a top10 pick as a 5, earn a $60M contract extension as a 5?
But he’s still not a great starting center. No one is intimidated by him. He’s a smallish center with avg athleticism, not a great shooter. Good backup. Not starting on a championship caliber team. They should’ve traded capela 2-3 yrs ago. Now just let him go. Trade onyeka and upgrade. Queen is not answer either. He’s way better offensively but probably even worse defensively. Hawks need to trade Trae and build around Jalen and Dyson. Period.
Lol you might wanna get familiar with Onyeka Okongwu.
He’ll put up numbers but if he’s starting at center the team will be average at best. He’s nothing special
Don’t take it personal lol. NBA also think he is a Center. I never will. Don’t care what NBA or media think. I played this game. Being able to play the 5. Does not make you a Center. Specially for a career. It just makes you able to give mins there. Especially with small ball you can go with a 4 at the 5. There is no replacement for a legit 7’ center. He is the only one who can be a PREMIER rim protector. No one else on the planet can be that. Basketball is a 2way sport. So he doesn’t have to be great offensively. AI and Mutombo almost beat a powerful Laker team in Finals. Just cause of a premier rim protector.
Most here don’t respect Defense. Hence why Luka is so popular. HS and college you vs can get away with 6’8” centers. Stop embarrassing yourself. There is a reason why god made athletic seven footers.
link to usctrojans.com
His USC team lists him as a Forward.
Okongwu best line up. Wiuld be an offensive C like Towns. Im not a big Towns guy. Cause he takes plays off on D. That’s unacceptable to me. But thats exactly what he needs next to him. And old school 4 who can guard the perimeter too. Actually I would want a 6’ 10” guy.
Just like Dyson is for Trae. Thats what Okongwu can be to an offensive C. Even an Embiid or a Jokic. Cause then he isn’t pressured to score. Just rebound and play help D and good D. He is perfect for that. And good enough to give you offense. At 32 mins a game he can give you 14 pts 10 rebounds as a PF. And good team and one on one D. That’s called Team Chemistry. Thats how you build a team. You take the best of players and make it work in a team scheme….. I told you this years ago. And you still don’t get the importance of a true rim protector.
This finals run is going to get him extremely overpaid. Most likely by a bad team that’s going to expect big things. Only to get 12 points and 6 rebounds.
He’s only worth it to Pacers. They need continuity to stay competitive. Sort of like IHart to OKC.
Both solid centers. Not all stars ….
Turner could have been an allstar. But he is not consistent.