The Indiana Pacers are off to a rough start in 2021 and that has reports flowing about potentially blowing it all up and entering a rebuild.
One player whose name constantly seems to be in trade rumors is Myles Turner.
He was the team’s first-round pick in 2015, but has never made an All-Star Game in his tenure.
If the Pacers want value in a deal, Turner can provide that.
The center was recently asked about his name showing up in trade rumors again and he did not hold back in offering a clear response.
“It’s clear that I’m not valued as anything more than a glorified role player here, and I want something more, more opportunity. …I’m not valued as more than a rotational role player, and I hold myself in a higher regard than that.”😳
– Myles Turner on Indiana
(The Athletic) pic.twitter.com/Ggv0UnMqVo— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) December 9, 2021
Turner believes he is considered to be a basic role player in Indiana.
He thinks higher of himself and this statement could mean Indiana is now forced to actually move him instead of just talking about it.
Turner Wants Out
Trading Turner may be best for both sides if he is this disgruntled and thinks the franchise is holding him back of his true potential.
He is only averaging 12.9 points and 29.1 minutes per game this season.
Turner is still starting every game, but the minutes tell the story of a player who is not seen as a top option.
Turner and the other core players in Indiana have undergone a lot of change in recent years.
Myles Turner to @RomeovilleKid in response to a question about yesterday's report concerning the direction of the team: "I know you're pretty new here bro, but my name is in a trade rumor every day." 😂
— Tony East (@TEastNBA) December 9, 2021
Frank Vogel was let go following the 2015-16 season and was replaced by Nate McMillan.
McMillan took the team to the postseason four times, only to lose in the first round every time with three sweeps thrown in as well.
Thus, he was fired and replaced by Nate Bjorkgren.
That tenure was a disaster that ended after one season, giving Rick Carlisle the job in Indiana for a second time.
So much turnover is tough for any player and Turner has spent his entire NBA career on a Pacers team stuck in the middle of the pack.
If he wants out and isn’t even getting a proper amount of playing time, the Pacers should act fast to maximize his value.
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