Timberwolves: One trade idea for Myles Turner
For a long time now, Minnesota Timberwolves fans have discussed the idea of trading for Myles Turner. Now that the Indiana Pacers may be entering rebuild mode, it’s time to look at the possibility of adding the former Texas Longhorn.
Shams Charania and Bob Kravitz of The Athletic delivered some unsettling news for Pacer fans. Indiana will look to move on from Caris LeVert and Domantas Sabonis or Turner.
Multiple sources said that the Pacers are receptive in trade dialogue with rival teams centered on potentially moving guard Caris LeVert and either two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis or center Myles Turner.
The keywords here are LeVert AND Sabonis OR Turner. It’s likely the Pacers would only move on from one of their centers. It’s been a discussion point for quite some time now, but it’s hard to imagine Turner and Sabonis co-existing on the floor together.
Turner is a 25-year-old center who might be the best rim protector in the NBA. In six seasons, he’s led the league in blocks twice (2018-19, 2020-21). If the season ended today, he would lead the league in that category again. His 2020-21 season was the best he’s ever recorded, averaging 3.4 per game.
This year he’s blocking 2.8 shots per game.
I’m not going to lie, the Rim Reaper is a pretty fire nickname. Just the way he’s able to read the pick-and-roll and protect the rim on that play is special.
Minnesota is fourth in the NBA in blocks per game (6.0), and adding Turner would almost put them on top. The Memphis Grizzlies are leading the league at 6.3 per game.
He’s a gifted defender, but what else can he do?
Turner is a decent scorer, with an added presence on the glass. He’s not going to drop 30 on a nightly basis, but he will consistently give you 10-to-20 points. Since his rookie season, Turner has averaged double-digit points in every season. This year he’s putting up 12.6 – the exact amount he had in 2020-21.
He also shoots efficiently. He’s shooting 52.6 percent from the field, 39.5 from 3 and 70.5 from the field. He’s not taking as many shots as Karl-Anthony Towns, but he’s not a liability on offense. A pairing of KAT and Turner would be deadly because they can both score/space the floor and cover the painted area.
Minnesota has struggled to rebound the ball, which is why Jarred Vanderbilt looks like Dennis Rodman out there. Granted, he’s an elite rebounder, but there’s no denying that the Timberwolves aren’t the best rebounding team.
At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, Turner is a bigger guy who can have success on the glass. This season he’s averaging 6.7 rebounds per game, which sounds low, but he’s also playing alongside Sabonis.
Here’s a hypothetical trade that could work for both sides:
Minnesota Gets: Turner
Indiana Gets: Malik Beasley, Leandro Bolmaro, 2022 top-10 protected first-round pick
This might not even be enough, but the Pacers are gaining two young players for their rebuild. Beasley is a shooter who would potentially start in LeVert’s spot (assuming he’s moved). Bolmaro is still an asset and has value around the league because he’s young and showed promise overseas and in the Olympics.
The first-round pick is just the cherry on top. If this isn’t enough, I think you’d have to swap Bolmaro for Jaden McDaniels.
Another idea is Taurean Prince, McDaniels and a top-10 first-round pick. Prince is on an expiring contract, which helps the Pacers books. They’re also receiving two young assets with the pick and McDaniels.
Let us know your thoughts and send us some mock trades for Turner.
