July 7: Turner is officially a Buck, per a press release from the team.
“We are thrilled that Myles chose our team and city!” general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. “He’s a winner and a dynamic player who fits us on both ends of the court. This is a big day for the Bucks and the Milwaukee community, and we are excited to welcome Myles and his family.”
July 1: Myles Turner is leaving Indiana after spending his entire 10-year career with the Pacers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that the veteran center has reached an agreement on a four-year, $107MM deal with the division-rival Bucks.
The contract will include a fourth-year player option and a 15% trade kicker, Charania adds.
According to Charania (Twitter links), Turner made it clear that he wanted to re-sign with the Pacers and tried to get a deal done with Indiana. However, ownership was reluctant to pay the luxury tax in 2025/26, particularly in the wake of Tyrese Haliburton‘s torn Achilles tendon.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line also says (via Twitter) Turner wanted to remain with the Pacers, but hears they never offered him more than $60MM over three years.
Bucks GM Jon Horst worked with agent Austin Brown to secure Turner a nine-figure payday in a market with little cap space available, per Charania.
Turner’s floor-spacing and rim-protecting is somewhat similar to Brook Lopez, whom the Bucks lost to the Clippers in free agency. The big difference is Turner is 29, eight years younger than Lopez, and better fits Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s contention timeline.
Stunningly, the Bucks are waiving and stretching Damian Lillard — who also suffered a torn Achilles in the playoffs — to create the cap room necessary to sign Turner.
Turner helped the Pacers reach the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history in 2024/25, pushing the heavily-favored Thunder to seven games before Haliburton’s untimely injury in the first quarter of the finale.
A former lottery pick (No. 11 overall in 2015), Turner averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks on .481/.396/.773 shooting in 72 regular season games last season (30.2 MPG). In 23 playoff contests (29.3 MPG), Indiana’s longtime starting center averaged 13.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 2.0 BPG on .484/.344/.771 shooting.
This is just our speculation, but it’s possible that Indiana might pursue center Deandre Ayton in the wake of Turner’s departure. The Pacers are the team that signed him to a maximum-salary offer sheet three years ago and he’ll be a free agent soon after reaching a buyout with the Trail Blazers.
Tremendous commitment to show Giannis they are still wanting to win in his prime. With the East being so down, I think Milwaukee might come out of the East. Still need a few more players but looks better than last year.
So now this should shut down all the Giannis getting traded talk. Bucks are doing this for 1 thing to make Giannis happy and show they can contend next year.
Somewhere Davey is crying in his shadows.
he is 0 for 3 this off season. 0 for 4 if we count LeBron.
Deservingly so.
Just bc they got Myles Turner doesn’t mean that Giannis will want to stay or that Milwaukee won’t suck next season. Since when did Myles become an acceptable #2 option offensively? This is basically same team Milwaukee had last yr except no Dame. Both Giannis & the Bucks should be looking to move on tbh.
Not sure where you been but there has been several articles about Bucks meeting with Giannis and promised they are going for it to make him happy and no rebuild.
Idc about whatever promises & meetings that have happened. Fact is this Bucks team isn’t a contender. They’re clearly less talented than they were last year. Now that we know Dame isn’t coming back to them there’s even less reason for Giannis to stick around. I guess it’s nice that the Bucks are trying to be contenders this season but since they don’t control their 1st they’d be doing that no matter whether Giannis was involved or not. The Turner signing is nice, waiving Dame is definitely a choice but their future truly begins when they go ahead & trade Giannis to Houston for Sengun/Reed/picks or to SAS for Vassell/Castle/picks. Id send him to Houston if I’m them.
Giannis is not getting traded unless the season goes down hill real fast and he ask to get out. they would never have signed Turner if Giannis said he wants to leave.
I agree, they would never have signed Turner if they were looking to trade Giannis for Sengun and others. Makes no sense. I think the depletion of the East top teams has something to do with his change of mind.
The upcoming season already went downhill real fast when Dame got hurt. They have yet to address that. This seems obvious lol.
Signing Turner is something that benefits Milwaukee whether Giannis is there or not. Man y’all are so short-sighted smh. If/when they trade Giannis for Alpo Sengun, Myles is the perfect big to play with him. Bucks didn’t have a starting 5, now they have a good one & they also weakened their biggest rival in the process. Myles upgrades their long range shooting & their team defense. These are both clear reasons to sign him no matter what Giannis got going on. Remember they don’t have their 1st. They’re not tanking, even if/when they trade Giannis.
Now is the perfect time for AKME to take advantage of Bucks situation and send Coby White for either 2031 or 2032 unprotected 1st round pick plus Pat C for salary cap purposes.
Give up Houston lol. They got their guy. They don’t need Giannis now. The Spurs even Raptors have better deals now. I do agree Bucks should still move him.
More sour grapes from Sankara, who refuses to believe a star would want to stay in a small market that treats him well
I think the Bucks will return to being more to a team that is about Giannis and a good supporting cast. GTJ and KPJ will both be scoring more and Turner is certainly an upgrade over Lopez. They’ll be younger and more athletic. I would think there’s also another nice move to come too but even if not, this is a solid team.
Giannis isn’t happy they cut Lillard.
You know what this opens up now? LeBron-to-Dubs speculation. And MAN does that sick feeling in my gut start to bubble! I’ve wanted Giannis on the Dubs with Steph right after KD left. Not only is that probably never gonna happen, but……the Dubs could be so desperate as to add…….ah maaaaan……PLEASE NO!!
Lebron is not going to the warriors for a few reason. First it would cost them Butler so how much better would they be with LeBron instead of Butler. Second the Lakers have a history of not trading with warriors because of rivalry. Third if Lakers wanted to trade Lebron they will ask for the world and back for him. Rob is known for asking for the moon and back.
Sure Davey J, keep the copium takes coming from your burner accounts.
The Bucks haven’t been out of the first round in 3 years lol.
Overpaying for Turner doesn’t make them close to a contender.
There is only 2 contenders in the East Cavs and Knicks. Bucks should have enough to make them one of the top 6 in the east.
You think Turner does this …. They were top 4 last year with a full team. Why would they be better than that losing Dame …
Didn’t they lose one of their players for a long time. I just think lliard never fit their team. Top 6 is not that hard since there are so many teams that are not on Knicks or Cavs level. Magic and Hawks I see improving most likely in top 4. 76ers, Bucks, Pacers, Bulls, Heat and Celtics competing for 4 through 8. Any of teh other teams can move up into 9 and 10.
Arc, LMAO Bulls improving. Please, I hope not. Next year’s draft is insanely talented with 4 guys. Need a pick badly to land in our favor.
Arc…please dont be cynical. Everyone knew that the bulls isnt competing for 4 through 8. They are not.
I’m just curious… how? S&T?
Wow, I did not see that coming.
SHAME on Indiana !!!
Why? Next year is already lost. Halliburton makes them the contender. He may not even come back at 80% of what he is now.
So what! Turner has played 10 yrs for Indiana and the team will contend with this core for the next several yrs. The team made plenty money the last couple yrs, so why not pay some luxury tax??!
How quickly a finals team can fall in a few weeks. they are now down 2 of their best players from last year.
They haven’t been a tax team in like 20 years why would they shift now?
To try to get back to the finals in a historically weak east. Too cheap to compete, no loyalty simply means no one will want to go there and other players will leave.
Because their ownership is mega-rich and they just went to the finals and only lost because the Refs rewarded the most flopping Oscar winning team in decades.
I agree. Indiana’s depth was the key to their run this year and they would’ve been able to compete without Hali.
Agree! 25mil for turner, an above average starting center. Sign that all day long.
Pacers have to be in the Ayton mix now, right..?
They’ve always liked Ayton.
Pacers ownership have shown that they are cheap. Ayton wants a one year deal then wants the chance for a big contract. The Pacers won’t pay him.
Meanwhile, the Lakers will have plenty of cap with LeBron off of their books next year. So, I doubt he will seriously consider the Pacers. Although, Ayton is not known for his thinking, so there is that!
After the report about his pouting and general surly behavior, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lakers passed.
Second surprise
Pacers owners love cost saving
Facts
Your comment doesn’t make much sense. I guess you don’t realize that even without Turner, the Pacers are already in the Top 10 of salary obligations for next season. The CBA makes it difficult to keep a team together…if the Pacers would have signed Turner, it reduces the chances of re-signing their other players such as Nembhard, Nesmith, and Mathurin to their next contract. And it wouldn’t make much sense to enter into luxury tax territory next season for a team (with Haliburton out due to injury) that likely won’t make it past the first round of the playoffs. And then have a wasted season count towards repeater status.
Pacers are definitely not top 10 in salary for next season. They are like 20 mil below the tax line. Bottom 10 would be more like it.
Over the past 5 seasons, the average number of teams that pay the luxury tax is 8. So there are teams with a Top 10 payroll that don’t pay the tax. And right now, it appears that next season will have fewer teams than that – although it is still early in the off season.
So I looked it up since I have too much time on my hands. Since 2001 when the luxury tax was implemented, the Indiana pacers have paid a total of $9 million in luxury tax payments. Total over the entire history of the luxury tax. They haven’t been in the luxury tax for 20 years. They make it to the finals and choose not to pay their starting center because they would be 5 million over the tax. Justify it however you want, your team is cheap.
And it is clear that you are only looking at next season and completely ignoring the future. The Pacers cap situation in 2 years is as follows: Haliburton 52.3, Siakam 52.3, Nembhard 20.1, Toppin 16.0, McConnell 11.8 (5.0 guaranteed), and Furphy 2.5. So that’s 155 for 6 players. The second apron that year is projected to be 251.5. They probably need 10 million of space to fill out the roster for end of bench players. So that leaves 86.5 for the following players: Turner, Mathurin, Nesmith, Walker, and Sheppard. 86.5 won’t be enough – one or two players from that group will be gone. If Turner had signed, Mathurin or Nesmith would probably have to go instead.
ok fine whatever. In two years they might have some decisions to make. Look if it was my team I’d be pissed. It is not even my team and I’m pissed. Glad you are feeling good.
I am not happy about it but I also understand that one or two players from that group will have to leave over the next year or two. So not happy, but not upset either. Sort of indifferent. Turner has had more than his fair share of injuries with a few chronic issues – like his back. Is that going to improve with age during the second half of his career? No. Look at his last 4 years – he has missed ~25% of games and that was without a major / significant injury. So that is probably the best case scenario…that he continues to play in ~75% of the games. One major injury or if his back deteriorates to a point which requires surgery and he will play a lot less than 75% of games.
It’s hard to believe that Herb Simon, who is a billionaire, would let Turner walk because of a few million. And after the pacers came so very close to winning the championship! That’s what I call misguided!
They never go into the tax. I didn’t expect they would after Hali’s injury.
That is incorrect. The Pacers have paid the luxury tax before – although obviously not that often. If you rank tax payments over the years, the Pacers are 23rd among the NBA teams – they have paid more in tax than the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons. Charlotte and New Orleans have not paid a dime of luxury tax.
Owners’ outside wealth is irrelevant. Teams pay salaries out of team revenue not their owners’ pockets, and every team is in the black.
How were the Bucks able to offer that kind of contract since they have already around 183 milions in payroll?
waiving Dame
Waived Dame
They’re waiving and stretching the Lillard contract
There were many instances in the OKC-Pacers series, carlisle sits turner to field in the quicker, & more athletic obi toppin 😆
This would be the only legit reason not to resign Turner. But depth is always good and Indiana deserves better ownership.
As a Pacers fan this is the right move. Yes Turner was the longest tenured player and was a huge part of their defense but he’s such a flawed player. A big who can’t rebound or box out well, has terrible cardio, and will probably be a late game sub because of his flaws. Him disappearing in Game 7 of the Finals really did him no favors and the Pacers are right not to push their chips in for this season when its probably a lost season anyway. Like without Hali the Pacers are definitely not a championship team and best case scenario are probably a play-in team. Why pay the luxury tax in a year where you’re not going to be a serious contender and you’ll probably be looking to get out from the tax in a year or two anyway.
Kick the luxury tax decision down the road for a year, use this year to let the young guys take the next step (Nembhard, Mathurin, Walker, Furphy, Shepperd). It seems crazy but I trust the process going on here. There’s a method to the madness here…there’s a reason why the Pacers are basically the only ECF team besides the Heat that haven’t completely bottomed out in the past 20 years.
The Pacers owners were on record saying they would play Turner before the injury to Tyres. I think it is wise to develop players. Wiseman may be signed with Ayton.
Never saw this coming. Who will be the point guard now?
That is a damn good contract for Milwaukee. With the cap going higher and his defense and three point shooting ability I thought he’d be at 30-35m per. I’d think Boston would’ve been interested with KP traded and Horford a FA. Fits the 3 or die Celtic strategy and a big that can fit in nice with the core of that team.
For some reason the Bucks front office thinks it’s 2021 and they are only one piece away from contending.
No one is worried about Turner.
Are they going to keep Kuzma? That experiment didn’t seem to go well.
Yea I thought MIL would trade Pat C for a meh PG. Looks like that ended up being more of a money saving/maneuvering move. So Kuzma for a PG seems like the next logical option.
If they had any draft assets, they might’ve roped the Nets into a reunion.. but that would def require a 3rd team.
Only if they can find anyone who wants Kuzma – he stunk last season.
Yep, you usually have to have two teams to make a trade happen. Tyus would’ve been good. Had he known MIL was going to waive Dame, he might’ve gone there similar to what he did with PHX last year instead of ORL. Dinwiddie not bad either.
For Kuzma, they may be able to do something with:
CHI for White/Ayo if they add a good enough pick OR take on PWill.
UTA/CHA for Sexton
MEM for Cole Anthony and like Konchar for salaries to match
Well his defense already has moved to a different city.
Wow
Hali going down was the end of gm 7, end of
Finals, end of hali, end of pacers, end of myles
He woulda gotten same deal from indy if tm was fully healthy
But the tm’s window to win closed in a single moment, had to let myles go
Gonna miss him
This has been a rly bad week im still so sad
Damn
They didn’t have to – Bucks didn’t overpay, while the Pacers’ cheapness means players will avoid them going forward.
Its not cheapness
Indy is barely gonna win 35-40 gms without tyrese
Even when he returns in 2 yrs he’ll need time to be the old hali. Why sign turner to 4 yrs when the tm will only be at full strength the final 2? Pacers gave hali max deal. They aint cheap
The injury completely altered the entire franchise. Probly forever
I remember how you were treating Knicks fans during playoffs I guess karma came back and bite you for that and I honestly don’t feel bad for someone like you.
Also, free agents? What FAs have ever signed with pacers? No one wants to play for small market indiana . Look @ all 5 starters. Myles nemhard drafted. Hali siakam nesmith acquired thru trade. Thats how small market tms succeed. Crafty trades, draft picks, development.
Turner is a good fit in Milwaukee. Below average rebounder, which is why advanced stats never liked him that much. But Giannis will compensate for it.
Other than that, he’s always available, can defend on the inside and move his feet on the perimeter, has a jumper, shoots threes. 25 million a year can probably be considered a team-friendly deal for him.
Indiana have Isaiah Jackson, a first-rounder from that full of talent 2021 draft. He was not extended last summer and got injured early into the 24-25 season. With that injury, they can probably get him on a very team-friendly contract. Then sign Ayton for a year or two, and they’ll be happy.
Do they really think Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr is going to keep Giannis happy. This is a sinking ship.
It’s the East, Bucks could very well be a 1-3 seed in a terrible conference.
I don’t care about the conference. That roster is bad and Doc Rivers is not a good coach.
Definitely a good pickup after letting Lopez walk. I can’t believe Pacers didn’t want to match it. Its actually a decent salary for the team. Bucks still need to handle their PG …. they should sign Delon Wright. Can only help .
Turner is a good move. Bucks still need more to contend for East ……