**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins

[BIG LEEMELONE]

Spoiler

First, the mea culpa.

I was wrong about Myles Turner and his future with the Indiana Pacers.

On several occasions — more than I’d like to recall, honestly — I wrote there was no way Turner, a free-agent-to-be at season’s end, would sign to remain with the Pacers and would instead be dealt elsewhere by the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline. This was an opinion borne of speaking with sources who knew the situation, and it was strengthened by the fact that Turner went on a national podcast and basically made the case for the Lakers to make a much-rumored trade for him.

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Well.

Things changed.

Was I wrong? In the long term, any way you slice it, I was wrong. Basically, the polar opposite of right. It’s hard to be much more incorrect.

But I’d also suggest that circumstances changed along the way. If that’s a weak-kneed cop-out, so be it.

Let me say this: The renegotiation-and-extension, a rarely used gambit that hasn’t been utilized since Robert Covington in 2017, is going to provide a sweet financial deal for Turner. He will get more in the next two-plus years than he likely would have as a free agent. By adding $17 million to this year’s salary — it’s money the Pacers had to spend to reach the league’s salary floor — they turned this season into a $35 million payday. Next year, he’ll make $20.9 million, then $19.9 million in 2024-25.

go-deeper
GO DEEPER

Myles Turner's unusual deal could be a win-win for him and Pacers

He could have received a longer-term deal as a free agent, but consider this: In 2025, when he’s still in his prime at age 28, the NBA will sign a new national TV deal. That will surely mean more money in the system and a higher cap, and if Turner is still healthy and playing at this level or higher, he will benefit when his free-agent payday comes along.

It also protects the Pacers in some ways. First, they can still trade him at or before the deadline — he’s far more attractive with a new contract than he would have been as a rental — but that’s not how the Pacers are viewing this deal. They want to keep him, at least through this season.

What happens next season and beyond is anybody’s guess, but Turner largely controls his future. If he continues to play at a career-high level, where he’s been freed up to play the full-time five with Domantas Sabonis having been traded, he can dig even deeper roots into Indianapolis. Thus far he’s been a perfect piece for Indiana, and he has taken full advantage of playing with this unselfish, new team and specifically Tyrese Haliburton. This is the most fun the Pacers have had playing the game in too many years. Last year was a drudgery, much like the years that came before. This year has been a joy.

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I didn’t see it coming. I’m not sure how many people in the league did.

This is the same organization that was ready to punt Turner when signing Deandre Ayton to an offer sheet this summer. This all seemed to be heading in one direction, especially with the Pacers looking at the long term and a chance to make the lottery in a strong, deep draft.

Again, things changed.

Turner got a chance to show what he could do without Sabonis, and he has excelled. (Sabonis has been incredible, for what it’s worth, but that’s no big surprise.) More than that, the Indiana market has fallen for these Pacers, the sub.-.500 record notwithstanding, and Turner has noticed, often singing the fans’ praises in his postgame comments. There is a very different feeling around this organization and town; who wouldn’t want to be part of it?

And you can never overstate the importance of Haliburton’s pass-happy approach when it has come to keeping Turner engaged. How often in past years did we see Turner stuck in the corner, disengaged from the play, waiting for someone to break down the defense and find him for an open 3? Now he’s all over the floor, consistently diving to the basket and making plays, often in concert with Haliburton. When Haliburton came here, general manager Kevin Pritchard talked about him as being something of a pied piper, and that’s what has happened. The hope is the Pacers, who will have between $30 million and $50 million in cap space, can sign a solid free agent this offseason. A power forward would make a whole lot of sense. So much for the slow rebuild.

It’s a win-win, almost any way you slice it (unless you wrote that it wasn’t going to happen and you’re wiping the egg off your face). The Pacers keep a fine player, maintain cap flexibility and can proceed while knowing that if Turner loses his edge — doubtful but possible — they can trade him at their convenience.

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So, what do the Pacers do at the deadline? They probably don’t know just yet. The sense is they want to get Haliburton back on the floor and see how the team plays. Haliburton is the straw that stirs the drink; he becomes early-extension-eligible at season’s end, and you have to think the Pacers will pay whatever it takes. They’ve lost nine of 10 since his injury, so yeah, he’s going to demand a lot of cash and deserves every penny.

This also changes the narrative that top players don’t want to stay in Indianapolis — at least for the time being. Paul George wanted out and got his wish. Victor Oladipo, the same. And Sabonis asked for a change of address, ultimately getting traded for Haliburton and Buddy Hield in a move that helped both teams.

For years, fans in Indy have run hot and cold on Turner, and for good reason: His game ran hot and cold. Some fans viewed him as someone who could blossom without Sabonis cramping his style. Others looked at his height and athleticism and wondered how he could be such an unproductive rebounder and have so little to offer around the rim offensively. (Nobody questioned his defense or shot-blocking ability.)

This weekend’s signing will not only bring an end to the years of trade rumors (at least for now), but it will also strengthen the bond between Turner, the team’s longest-tenured player, and the city of Indianapolis. The next time the Pacers play at home, against the Lakers (of all teams) on Thursday, Turner will receive a massive ovation.

So …

I was wrong.

Kind of glad about it, honestly.

(Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today)

This guy doesn't really seem to know anything

 

[pmatic]

Pelinka needs to save Ham from himself and deal away PatBev. Brick would be ideal too, but pretty difficult given how much he makes and what it would take to get off him.

 

[lovehateself]

the PatBev stock is at its peak right now

but this team loses the only dawg on the team if they deal him

 

[pmatic]

the PatBev stock is at its peak right now

but this team loses the only dawg on the team if they deal him

Maybe if it was last season's roster, but these guys either have motors (Bryant, Gabriel, Reaves) or agendas like contract years (Walker, Brown Jr, Schroder, Rui). I don't think losing PatBev hurts in that regard.

 

[MVP]

Got enough energy guys, need someone who actually can play and knock down some shots and is at least 6'4"

 

[Brosizzlew30.23]

Rui trade was encouraging. Signaled that they aren't done making moves and aren't planning on tanking. If they're going to proceed to build around AD, it would make sense to invest in someone like Myles as a contingency when AD misses 15-20 games. The way Pelinka has been talking all year almost made it sound like he wanted the security of that extension before unloading a 1st rounder

Turner is still and should be a priority for Pelinka.

Either way we HAVE TO acquire a defensive center to help AD otherwise this team ain't winning a title.

Let merepeat it again another 1000 times fellas lol

 

[pmatic]

 

[Lizakers]

Last 4 games:

3-13
4-13
7-15
4-14

He’s gotta snap out of it tonight to have a chance to win

 

[pmatic]

 

[CP1708]

And we got folks in here wantin him back next season.....

 

[MVP]

Could be posturing but not looking like a lotta trade options out there

 

[pmatic]

 

[lovehateself]

how do they not see that theyre being set up

 

[pmatic]

Wouldn't seem like they're trading Turner if they're gonna have a presser like this.

 

[MVP]

So no Turner, no Bojan, we giving up picks and players and picks for FVV and GTRjr? Yikes...

 

[tupac003]

Nobody had Rui on their radar until the deal happened...

Let's see what Rob cooks up.

 

[Lizakers]

going from Brick to FVV and Trent would be a Christmas miracle

Don’t forget the value of addition by subtraction. There is inherent value in not having Russ on the roster both on and off the court

 

[pmatic]

Nobody had Rui on their radar until the deal happened...

Let's see what Rob cooks up.

Rui for None and second(s)?

 

[MVP]

going from Brick to FVV and Trent would be a Christmas miracle

Don’t forget the value of addition by subtraction. There is inherent value in not having Russ on the roster both on and off the court

And you're fine being married to that going forward beyond this season?

 

[thasoleful1]

 

[Lizakers]

And you're fine being married to that going forward beyond this season?

FVV and Trent are under contract for one more season after this season. It’s not some earth shattering commitment to long term money we’re talking about here

If we were ok with 2 years of Russ when we acquired him, 1.5 seasons of FVV and Trent seems way better

 

[pmatic]

AD/Bryant/Boucher/Wenyen
Bron/Rui/McDermott/Brown Jr/JTA/Christie
Schroder/Trent/Reaves/PatBev

1 roster spot open and a $11.8M trade exception.

 

[MVP]

FVV and Trent are under contract for one more season after this season. It’s not some earth shattering commitment to long term money we’re talking about here

If we were ok with 2 years of Russ when we acquired him, 1.5 seasons of FVV and Trent seems way better

FVV is wanting an extension this summer.

 

[pmatic]

FVV and Trent are under contract for one more season after this season. It’s not some earth shattering commitment to long term money we’re talking about here

If we were ok with 2 years of Russ when we acquired him, 1.5 seasons of FVV and Trent seems way better

They both can opt-out and be free agents in the summer.

 

[Lizakers]

They both can opt-out and be free agents in the summer.

So it’s a rental. Got it
I guess we only trade for them if we want to extend them i.e. Rui