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Before Milwaukee Bucks Lured Myles Turner, Pacers Were Ready To Pay 1st Luxury Tax in 20 Years To Keep Him
Milwaukee Bucks Make Wild Splash Out of Nowhere, Add Top Free Agent Big for 4 Years, $107 Million 1 May 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) dribbles the ball while Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) defends during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

In order to acquire Myles Turner, the Milwaukee Bucks had to waive and stretch Damian Lillard for a record amount of money. For the next five years, they will owe Dame around $22 million per season. It was a bold move, called rash by some, and it stunned the Pacers as they negoitiated to retain Turner after their 2025 Finals run. According to the team president of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard, Indiana was committed to keeping their center of 10 years even if it meant exceeding the tax threshold for the first time since 2005.

“Shadow Team” Milwaukee Bucks Put Shocking End to Pacers’ Negotiations with Turner

Since the Pacers drafted Turner 11th overall in 2015, the now 29-year-old has enjoyed a consistently productive career, averaging 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. While he is not as defensively elite as he once was, he has developed on offense. Last season, Turner shot a career-best 39.6% on threes on 5.5 attempts per game.

On paper, he is very much a stretch big in the mold of Brook Lopez, not quite the defender but more versatile on the other end of the floor. Compared to the two seasons prior, Turner’s scoring dipped slightly last year, but he has a chance for increased volume in Milwaukee. His 15.6 PPG in 2024-25 would rank second on the current Bucks roster.


Before Milwaukee Bucks Lured Myles Turner, Pacers Were Ready To Pay 1st Luxury Tax in 20 Years To Keep Him 2 May 2, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) shoots the ball while Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) defends during game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Clearly, general manager Jon Horst believes Turner will make a big enough impact to warrant a four-year, $107 million contract, with a player option in the final season, that required carrying Lillard’s dead money years into the future.

Averse to paying the tax, the Pacers have garnered accusations of stinginess. Pritchard made sure to clarify that they made an earnest effort to retain Turner.

“I know this. [Owners] Herb Simon and Steven Rales and the Simon family were fully prepared to go deep into the luxury tax to keep him, and we really wanted to do that. We were negotiating in good faith,” Pritchard said.


Milwaukee Bucks GM Jon Horst Speaks Up on Trade That Got Them Most Important Signing in 2025 Offseason 5 Apr 19, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) celebrates a made basket in the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Both in volume and average salary per year, Turner’s new contract is the largest of his career. He last signed a two-year, $41 million deal to remain in Indiana through last season. Entering the summer, it was largely anticipated that he would sign a hefty long-term contract to stay a Pacer. That sentiment also pervaded the Indiana organization:

It was a little surprising how Milwaukee created that. We always say in our conference room, there’s cap teams that have cap space, and there’s shadow teams that have cap space. But it becomes very challenging, by buying out or making trades. Hat tip to Milwakee to do that. I think the most important thing is, we were deep in conversations with Myles. And then we saw that he had accepted an offer with Milwaukee. That’s part of this business that is challenging.

After a decade in Indiana, Turner embarks on a new chapter with his old team’s biggest rival. The Bucks are glad to have him.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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