The Golden State Warriors won their fourth championship in eight years this past season. Conversely, the Indiana Pacers failed to make the playoffs entirely.
By any objective measure, these two franchises are presently heading in very different directions.
Could they be able to help each other further their goals?
One NBA executive seems to think so.
This past week a Western Conference exec spoke with NBA insider Sean Deveney and suggested an intriguing move that could really help Golden State next season.
“If you have Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson] and Draymond [Green] in their 30s, you might have to make a move to win now,” the exec said.
“Myles Turner is such a fit for them. Everyone is afraid of injuries with him but if he is healthy, you can finally stop getting beaten up in the middle against big teams. And everyone is big now, that is still a worry for them.
“Dallas added to the middle, Denver has [Nikola] Jokic, Minnesota now, Phoenix — they all have good situations in the middle. And in the Finals you can get Boston again or Philly, and you’ll be in trouble.
“Send off James Wiseman, give me Myles Turner for this year and maybe the next few. Wiseman might be great in five years. But you’ll have another ring.”
The Pacers have been looking to deal Turner for quite some time. Four NBA teams are actively aiming to acquire him, but thus far nothing has materialized. A dark horse suitor has also expressed interest, but they too have been unsuccessful in prying him away from Indiana.
Turner would be a fantastic fit in The Bay. He is a great three-point shooter who would find easy shots in the Warriors’ offense, and he is one of the best rim-protectors in the entire league.
Maybe Wiseman will one day become as good as Turner currently is, but at the moment, he isn’t.
As for the Pacers, they have time to let Wiseman develop. And if he doesn’t, any trade for Turner will involve a substantial amount of future draft capital.
Curry is 34 years old. Thompson’s health will continue to be a question mark going forward. Green is on a clear decline. At some point they’ll fall off, and at that point those Warriors draft picks will become pretty valuable.
If the Pacers can get them for a guy they’ve been looking to unload for more than a year anyway, that’s not a bad situation.
At least Baker Mayfield’s wife is having a good season. https://t.co/C4mWJV0JwU
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 16, 2022
And frankly, this proposed trade makes a lot more sense than the one involving the Los Angeles Lakers that went viral earlier this week.
Will the Warriors and Pacers get something done centering around Turner? Time will tell.
Should they, though? Absolutely.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
