Five months after helping the Pacers reach the NBA Finals, Myles Turner may be treated as a villain tonight as he returns to Indiana. Tyrese Haliburton‘s ruptured Achilles in Game 7 of that series and Turner’s offseason decision to sign with the Bucks have quickly unraveled a potential championship team, and Turner isn’t sure how the fans will react when he’s introduced, writes Jamal Collier of ESPN.
“I don’t know what to expect,” he said. “There’s going to be some cheers. There’s going to be some boos. It kind of just is what it is. For me personally, the biggest thing is obviously winning the basketball game, that’s paramount. But there’s going to be some mixed emotions. Still got some great people in the organization that I rock with. Obviously old teammates, it’s going to be a blend of emotions, for sure.”
Turner approached free agency fully expecting to re-sign with the Pacers, Collier adds. He had been the subject of trade rumors in the past, but those had always blown over and he anticipated continuing his 10-year relationship with Indiana.
However, sources tell Collier that negotiations between Turner’s agent and the team hit a snag because the Pacers wouldn’t increase their offer past $22MM annually for three years.
Meanwhile the Bucks were plotting a bold strategy to add Turner to their roster and hopefully quell trade speculation regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo. They provided the most shocking move of free agency when they waived Damian Lillard and stretched the $113MM left on his contract. That opened enough cap room to offer Turner a four-year, $107MM deal with a player option on the final season.
He considered it an easy choice, stating, “(Indiana) made it very clear how they valued me. And so did the Milwaukee Bucks.”
“I’ve always been told when I was in trade rumors, this is a business, this is a business, this is a business,” Turner added. “And that’s kind of what this decision was for me. It was a business decision. It’s unfortunate that it came at the time that it did, but it’s a $40MM difference at the end of the day.”
Pacers president Kevin Pritchard was shocked by Turner’s decision, Collier adds. Pritchard believed the negotiating process was still continuing and wasn’t aware of the deal with Milwaukee until he saw it on social media. He thought the team was nearing an acceptable offer, but Turner viewed it differently.
“There were a lot of factors that went into the decision,” Turner said, “but Indiana made it very easy for me.”
So far, Turner’s decision has worked out well for him and the Bucks and poorly for his former team. He’s off to a rough shooting start — averaging just 9.8 points through six games while connecting at 39.3% from the field and 34.4% from three-point range — but Milwaukee is 4-2 and looks like one of the best teams in the East. The Pacers didn’t pick up their first win until Saturday and have been suffering from a lack of star power.
Turner’s new teammates are raving about the veteran leadership he’s providing for a squad that lost Lillard, Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton over the past year, and he’s enjoying the chance to play alongside a superstar in Antetokounmpo.
“He’s about to change my life, man,” Turner said. “I spent 10 years of my life doing the exact same thing. It’s obviously an adjustment, but it’s hoops at the end of the day.”
Indiana was cheap. Too bad. But maybe things will turn out for all.
I’m thinking of OKC trading Giddey.
They were cheap. Once Hali went down. They just didn’t see the need to bring him back.
Way things are going now for Pacers. They probably will tank for a pick. And could get their Center lol.
Pacers definitely invited him to leave. Dumb.
Indiana were cheap, true.
But it’s water under the bridge now. You’re a Milwaukee player, Myles. The only thing that matters now is what you do in that shirt. And the start has been disappointing. Yeah, he had a decent game or two, blocked some shots, but generally, his start hasn’t been good. I’ve seen all of their games so far. He’s shooting poorly, he’s rebounding less than ever, he’s hiding in games not looking for the ball, he’s not trying to finish at the rim to get free throws. He’s been a negative by pretty much all advanced metrics.
They could have been 6-0 if they got decent production out of him.
Concentrate on your future, not your past, player.
Sure, but it takes time to adjust to a new team and Rivers is playing a bunch of different players/lineups (9 guys playing 19+ minutes/gm).
If he still looks like this in 2026, that would be a problem.
Myles game has always been inconsistent. Sure, he can string together a few stat-padding games but then he will be nearly invisible for a week’s worth of games. I think it was part of the reason why he was such a polarizing player on the Pacers. There were a lot of Pacers fans that loved him…but he had a large share of haters, too.
Good for Turner. But a lot with the injury to Hali, Turner prob didn’t want to waste a year in Indy.
I think Turner is in a good place. Giannis needs him to play. He was definitely a good pickup for Bucks.
Return to India?
Turner at Indiana felt underused. Thought he could get more looks. You also have to be more selfish at times to get yours. In Milwaukee he should have more freedom to get more offense. We all know Giannis needs that. Turner is a good teammate. So he won’t force it imo. I’m Giannis I would talk to him. And tell him to shoot more. And be more aggressive on offense.
In ten yrs at Indiana. He avg 28.7 mins.
His best production yrs were 2022-23 and 2023-24. When he played over 29.4 mins. And put up 17 pts and 7.2 reb, 2 blks. Chk out his numbers those two yrs. Thats who the Bucks need or better. Right now he is at —— 2025-26, 28.7 mins, 10 pts, 6.2 reb, 1.8 blk
They need that 2022 thru 2024 Turner lols. I know Giannis would love it.