All signs point toward Myles Turner returning to the Pacers

The Indiana Pacers lost Tyrese Haliburton in the first quarter of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Then they lost the game.

Haliburton suffered an Achilles injury and will likely miss most of next season, if not all. But at least the Pacers should have center Myles Turner back from their pleasant surprise of a run. In fact, nearly every key rotation piece should return.

“The Pacers have four out of their five starters under contract and all signs pointed to the fifth, free agent center Myles Turner returning,” wrote ESPN’s Jamal Collier.

Turner, 29, is an unrestricted free agent. Most accounts do indeed suggest he’ll re-up with Indiana, perhaps not even exploring the free-agent market much beforehand. “He knows where he fits,” one scout told Hoops Wire.

Turner averaged 15.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 72 games during the regular season, shooting 39.6% on three-pointers. Those numbers dropped slightly in the playoffs, particularly in the seven Finals games.

But he was a big reason the Pacers got there in the first place and Indiana undoubtedly wants him back. That said, there are no guarantees. Never are in this business.

“Reaching a compromise on Turner’s next contract is the priority,” Collier wrote. “Executives around the league have lauded the Pacers for how they built their roster under the current CBA. The financially conscious Pacers have 13 players, including Turner, who earned less than $20M this season. That blueprint will now get tested.”