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NBA Insider Reveals Massive $90 Million Prediction For Pistons Target

Myles Turner could be priced out for the Detroit Pistons this offseason.
Nov 17, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives to the basket as Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) and guard Caris LeVert (22) defend during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images
Nov 17, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives to the basket as Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) and guard Caris LeVert (22) defend during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images | Tim Fuller-Imagn Images

Before the Indiana Pacers put together another deep postseason run, their veteran center Myles Turner was viewed as one of the top potential free agents in the 2025 class.

Not long before the Pacers reached the 2025 NBA Finals, the Detroit Pistons were mentioned as potential candidates to scoop up the floor-spacing center. When those reports first surfaced, a lot of caution was added due to the fact that the Pacers were expected to pitch a stay for Turner.

Once the Pacers reached the NBA Finals, it was suggested that Indiana is willing to go above and beyond to keep Turner in the building. What could Turner’s new deal with the Pacers potentially look like? NBA Insider Bobby Marks recently offered a projection of three years, $90 million.

Myles Turne
Nov 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) looks to shoot Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, during a game between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | Grace Smith/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

“Indiana has not paid a luxury tax penalty since 2005-06,” Marks stated. “However, as both ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Charania reported, Indiana is willing to dip into the tax to sign their starting center. They are $20 million below the tax entering the offseason.”

“…The new contract would give Turner the 10th-highest salary among all NBA centers,” Marks writes. “Turner had 144 blocks this season, third most in the league. He is the only player with at least 150 3-pointers and at least 125 blocks.”

The Pistons aren’t going to have money to blow in free agency, leading the team’s President of Basketball Operations, Trajan Langdon, to suggest that a big move would likely have to come through the trade market. A sign-and-trade for Turner would’ve been doable, but the Pacers are unlikely to remove him from their core.

With Turner potentially out of the picture soon, the Pistons have a couple of other options to consider. Minnesota’s Naz Reid remains a possibility, while Memphis’ Santi Aldama has recently been linked to the Pistons as well.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

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