INDIANAPOLIS — While the Knicks’ starters won’t be entering free agency this offseason, the Pacers face a key decision regarding one of their veteran players: starting center Myles Turner.
The 10-year career Pacer will become an unrestricted free agent once Indiana’s playoff run ends and his $19.9 million-per-year contract expires.
The Pacers are keen on retaining Turner, and according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, there is a readiness from team ownership to escalate spending next season. This could mean entering the luxury tax bracket to maintain the current team lineup.
At 29, Turner managed just five points and two rebounds in Indiana’s Game 5 defeat to the Knicks, despite previously averaging 15.5 points with 53.7 percent shooting over the initial four games of the Eastern Conference Finals. The sixth game is scheduled for Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Turner averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 boards and two blocked shots per game in 72 appearances this season, while shooting a career-high 39.6 percent from 3-point range.
All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is signed through 2029 after landing an extension worth up to $260 million in 2023.
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Fellow starters Pascal Siakam (2028), Andrew Nembhard (2028) and Aaron Nesmith (2027) all are under contract for multiple seasons, according to Spotrac.
As for exceeding the luxury tax to re-sign the 6-foot-11 Turner, Windhorst also reported earlier in the series that “rival teams remain skeptical at this point, having for generations seen the Pacers make decisions to avoid the tax penalty, as they monitor the Turner situation.
But internally, the Pacers are hoping to be able to keep him without sacrificing their outstanding depth.”
Veteran guard T.J. McConnell and former Knicks forward Obi Toppin also are signed through 2028, and former lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin is eligible for an extension this summer after the team picked up his $9.18 million option for next season.
Turner’s current backup, Thomas Bryant, also will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the team holds a $2.9 million option on reserve big man Tony Bradley.
