NBA Notes: Bucks, Myles Turner, Bulls, Nikola Vucevic, Nets

Bucks

Myles Turner returns to Indiana tonight and the reception may not be warm.

Turner suggested he expects a mix of cheers and boos, per Jamal Collier of ESPN. He thought he would re-sign with the Pacers, but negotiations stalled. Indiana reportedly capped its offer around 22 million per year for three seasons.

Milwaukee opened a larger window, stretching the final 113 million of Damian Lillard’s deal to create the room for a four-year, 107 million offer with a player option.

Turner said it was a business call. The difference in money made it easy to process.

Pacers president Kevin Pritchard was stunned. Collier wrote that Carlisle believed talks were still moving forward and found out on social media when Turner shifted to Milwaukee.

Turner is not shooting it great yet, averaging 9.8 points on 39.3 percent from the field and 34.4 percent on threes, but the Bucks are 4-2 and look like an East contender early.

For Turner, after 10 seasons in one place, this is a reset.

Bulls

Nikola Vucevic was in trade rumors last year. Chicago kept him. So far that is paying off.

Vucevic is averaging 19.3 points and 12.3 rebounds, and as Marc Stein of The Stein Line suggested, interest remains high — as Vucevic is on an expiring 21.5 million contract. If the Bulls stay near the top of the East, there may be no reason to move him.

Nets

Brooklyn is 0-6 and Sunday was another rough night.

The Sixers came in without Joel Embiid and won, 129-105. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 22 in the first quarter. Tyrese Maxey scored 26. Quentin Grimes added 22. Brian Lewis of The New York Post wrote that coach Jordi Fernandez questioned his team’s effort.

“I am failing at trying to get my guys to play hard,” Fernandez said.

Brooklyn had 19 turnovers and rarely put together stops. Terance Mann said the message from Fernandez is clear. Basically, until the Nets defend, they are not winning.

Fernandez also made a lineup change. Rookie Ben Saraf went to the bench. Tyrese Martin started and went scoreless, missing all six of his attempts. Saraf did not play after starting the previous five games and said his defense must improve.