Myles Turner may not be moved before the trade deadline after all. Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer reported earlier this week that the Indiana Pacers big man is increasingly likely to remain with his current team past February 10th, in part due to concerns about his ongoing recovery from a stress reaction in his left foot. If Turner moves on from the Pacers before this summer, though, the Portland Trail Blazers seem like one of his most realistic destinations regardless.
“There was strong momentum in conversations between Indiana and Portland, sources said, yet there's dwindling confidence from league personnel about Turner's injury timeline and his ability to help a potential new team's playoff push this season,” Fischer reported.
But the latest update on Turner's status suggests he'll be back on the floor sooner rather than later, ready for a late-season playoff push if interested teams meet Indiana's asking price leading up to the trade deadline.
“Carlisle said this at practice today, ‘Myles (Turner) had another scan. The news is good. Doctors are seeing what they want to see…The hope is that he can return at some point sooner than later,” per FanSided's Zach Pearson.
The market for Turner could very well be re-heating, basically, and Portland must be ready to beat it. Here's an offer from the Blazers for the shot-swatting, sweet-shooting center that the Pacers would find tough to pass up.
Myles Turner Blazers Trade
Indiana Pacers receive: Myles Turner, Oshae Brissett
Portland Trail Blazers receive: Larry Nance Jr., Robert Covington, 2024/next allowable first-round pick (top-10 protected)
Portland isn't the only team that's been regularly mentioned as a potential deadline destination for Turner. The Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings are also chasing him, and additional teams could come calling if Turner continues progressing toward an imminent return to the floor. But unlike most of his suitors, the Blazers shouldn't be scared off by the prospect of Turner potentially being sidelined for the majority of the season's remainder.
Their hopes of vaulting to sixth in the West and avoiding the play-in tournament were highly unlikely even before Nassir Little suffered a season-ending injury to his left shoulder earlier this week. With Lillard sidelined indefinitely and comfortable prioritizing the big picture, it's never been more obvious that interim GM Joe Cronin's most prudent means of retooling is an on-the-fly tank that would allow Portland to keep its 2022 first-round pick, one that hopefully falls in the top half of the lottery.
Indiana was reportedly asking for multiple first-rounders in exchange for Turner prior to the extent of his injury being revealed. The Blazers come close to meeting that threshold in this theoretical framework, surrendering a future first-round pick that's top-10 protected as well as Nance and Covington, who still have value league-wide even after underperforming relative to expectations since being dealt to Rip City.
Nance has one year left on his bargain current contract and would be a snug fit next to Domantas Sabonis in the Pacers' frontcourt. Covington, a free agent this summer, is mostly included for cap reasons here, but could be useful for Indiana in a potential sign-and-trade or as playable salary ballast in a future deal this time next year.
The circumstances of Turner's injury present a golden opportunity for Portland. Sending Nance and Covington to Indianapolis would leave the Blazers utterly bereft of quality options at forward, a major weakness that would inevitably up their odds of netting a high-value lottery pick. Unlike other teams desiring Turner, there would be no need for Portland to rush him back to the court as soon as possible for the stretch run of the regular season, either. Bringing in Turner would also clarify Jusuf Nurkic's future.
A package of Nance, Covington and a top-10 protected future first-round pick probably isn't the offer Indiana wants. But if they're intent on moving him before summer, when who knows how many more players of his caliber or better could potentially be put on the block, this Blazers trade could nevertheless be the Pacers' most attractive haul for Turner at the deadline.
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