Having Almost Ditched Pacers for NBA Cup Final Rivals, Myles Turner Reflects on Major “Could Have Been” Moment

In a stunning twist that has left the basketball world, fans, and experts in awe, the Indiana Pacers are undefeated in the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament. As a result, they now face the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas for the NBA Cup. The dynamic duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner has emerged as the cornerstone players for the Pacers, showcasing an impressive blend of offensive and defensive packages, and positioning them as obvious leaders of the squad.

However, Turner’s current success is a far cry from his situation in 2021. The 11th overall pick in the 2015 draft found himself in a precarious position when the Pacers were exploring trade options for the big man, part of their strategic shake-ups within their rebuilding stints.

Myles Turner reminisces about trade talks

As the two teams went through their routines, Chris Haynes probed Myles Turner to delve into his past uncertainties with the Pacers, posing an intriguing “what could have been” scenario. While Myles didn’t ponder the jerseys he could have worn, he did share personal insights from that period. Instantly, Turner exuded the significance of professionalism, showering praise on his teammates and inner circle for keeping him grounded. Moreover, he then made sure that his current roster’s ongoing run gets its due credit.

The Pacers must now be overjoyed that they retained Turner. Throughout the season, Turner is averaging 17.1 points and 8 rebounds. Furthermore, he is doing that while shooting 50.6% from the field.

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Additionally, he is coming off a 26-point performance against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinal game.

The Lakers were once eyeing Turner

In their ongoing quest for talent, the Los Angeles Lakers have consistently set their sights on two standout players from the Indiana Pacers. Following the 2021 season, the Lakers expressed interest in acquiring Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. However, despite the Pacers’ openness to parting ways with both players, there was a huge catch. In exchange for two of their starters, the Pacers insisted the Lakers sweeten the deal by handing two unprotected first-round picks. The demand changed things for the LA team. They eventually decided to hold on to their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks.

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Adding to the intrigue, recent offseason rumors once again linked the Lakers to the dynamic duo of Buddy Hield and Myles Turner. However, with several of their core players simultaneously becoming free agents, the Lakers shifted their focus to securing and retaining their existing talent first.