Myles Turner on contract extension: 'I wanted to be here in Indy'
After years of speculation about his future, Myles Turner signed a two-year contract extension with the Indiana Pacers earlier this week. His salary during the ongoing season was renegotiated up to his maximum in order to create a deal that made sense for both the Pacers and for Turner.
Now, the big man is tied to the franchise that drafted him in 2015 through the 2024-25 season. "I was really glad just to get something done so I can go out there and focus on hoops," Turner said on Monday. He's looking forward to having no distractions going forward, as his contract was set to expire at the end of this season.
"I'm very excited to be here," he added.
Turner has spent his entire eight year NBA career with the Pacers. He was a part of the last five Indiana teams that reached the postseason and has started 441 games for the franchise over the last near-decade.
During the most recent three seasons of Turner's career, he started alongside Domantas Sabonis in the frontcourt. That moved him to a more perimeter-based role. This year, Turner is playing at the center spot exclusively, and it has led to career-best numbers.
The Texas native is averaging 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season. Those numbers, along with his efficiency figures, are career highs. He has taken a step forward in force and impact this campaign, and playing alongside Tyrese Haliburton, perhaps the best passer in the NBA, has certainly made Turner's life better on the court.
"It made it a lot easier just knowing I have a group like this," Turner said of the current Pacers team, noting that they match his mentality. "I love playing for Rick," he added of the team's head coach, Rick Carlisle. Turner shared that he believed Carlisle was advocating for him to get a contract extension.
For Turner, after years of rumors and speculation, he extended his time in Indy just seven months after the team sent a restricted free agency offer sheet to Deandre Ayton last summer. Ayton and Turner play the same position, so that move by the Pacers put some doubt on the 2015 lottery pick's future with the franchise.
Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said that there were "100 conversations," about that situation. He wouldn't expand on what those conversations entailed, but that was certainly a hurdle to clear in negotiations between Indiana and Turner.
In the end, though, Turner wanted to remain in the city he started his NBA days with. He preferred to stay with a group that he gels with for the next two-plus seasons. "I wanted to be here in Indy," he said.
The length of the extension, just two years, allows Turner to get into the free agency market while he is still just 29 years old. That offseason, the summer of 2025, is when it is expected that a new television rights deal will kick in for the NBA, which could give teams more money to spend in free agency. Pritchard acknowledged that there is an "artificial barrier," in 2025 for many players inking deals.
"I think a lot just has to do with my age," Turner said of the length of the deal. He didn't know that the salary renegotiation process was a thing teams could do, but it worked out well in his favor this season and beyond.
His teammate agreed. "It was special. The guy works so hard and is the consummate professional," T.J. McConnell said. The veteran guard noted that every player can see the rumors about themselves, but Turner never let it impact his effectiveness. "That extension that he got is beyond [deserved]," McConnell concluded.
As for Haliburton, the brilliant passing guard who has made Turner's life easier on offense, he too is elated to have the big man tied to Indy. The Pacers have a +3.25 net rating when the two players share the court.
"It's exciting. It's exciting to have him moving forward," Haliburton said. "We all were in [agreement] that we wanted him here," he added, noting that it's a weight off of his shoulders to have the big man stick around.
The Pacers core is now locked up for many more seasons. That will make it easier for the front office to construct their team going forward. And for Myles Turner, who wanted to stay in Indiana, this contract is the perfect way for him to advance into the next stage of his career.
- Why a contract extension made sense for the Indiana Pacers and Myles Turner. CLICK HERE.
- Tyrese Haliburton says he hopes to return from injury 'to start February' for the Indiana Pacers. CLICK HERE.
- Report: Indiana Pacers were 'finalist' for Rui Hachimura before Los Angeles Lakers trade. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers rookies Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard were named to the NBA Rising Stars team. CLICK HERE.
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