Myles Turner finally reveals what pushed him to leave the Indiana Pacers after Tyrese Haliburton's injury
Myles Turner was the core of the Indiana Pacers' defense, a fan favorite, and the player with the longest tenure on the team. Since being drafted in 2015, he has played his entire NBA career in Indiana, so his choice to depart and ink a four-year, $108.9 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks sent ripples through the basketball scene.
This shift happened just after Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers' star point guard, suffered a major Achilles injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, putting him out for the whole upcoming season.
The number Myles
Turner
had in mind was never going to sit well with the Indiana Pacers
The key factor in Myles Turner's departure was a failure to reach an agreement on his contract with the Pacers. As he entered free agency for the first time, he aimed for a deal around $27 million per year, which he believed reflected his role as a vital player in the team's recent success, including their trip to the NBA Finals.
The Pacers only proposed $23 million annually, a difference that was too significant to reconcile.
According to ESPN, fulfilling Turner's demands would have pushed the Indiana Pacers into the luxury tax, resulting in an extra $11 million in penalties on top of his salary. Additionally, crossing that threshold would mean losing out on a $5 to $10 million refund that non-taxpaying teams receive each year.
How Tyrese Haliburton's injury shifted the Indiana Pacers' entire outlook
Tyrese Haliburton's injury not only impacted the Pacers' lineup—it altered the course of the franchise.
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In the closing moments of Game 7 against the eventual champions, Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles tendon, a significant injury that will keep him off the court for the whole next season. Before this misfortune, the Pacers were considered serious contenders, having nearly defeated their Finals opponent. With Haliburton out, they now look like a middle-of-the-pack playoff team at best, a stark contrast to the championship goals Turner had been chasing.
Turner hinted at the injury's influence without directly naming it as the sole reason for his departure. 'For me, ultimately it was about just staying competitive,' he said. 'Two years ago, we got to the conference finals. Obviously, last year we got to the Finals. Being a big part of winning basketball just changed my entire perspective on this league. I saw a chance to remain competitive here [in Milwaukee].' It wasn't like he outright said that Haliburton's injury pushed him to make a move, but the timing and circumstances hint that it was a major factor in his thought process.
The Indiana Pacers had to make a difficult choice after losing Tyrese Haliburton
The Pacers, for their part, didn't let Turner go without a fight. Kevin Pritchard, the team's president of basketball operations, 'We did everything possible to keep Myles. But with Tyrese out, we had to consider our long-term financial health.'
This practical method shows the truth about handling a team in a small market, where luxury tax penalties are more severe and flexibility is key.
Also Read:
Jason McIntyre says Los Angeles Lakers would be West favorites if Bradley Beal joins them
With Haliburton out, the Pacers turned their attention to rebuilding with younger, budget-friendly players like Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and James Wiseman, who have all been signed or re-signed to handle frontcourt responsibilities.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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