Maybe probably the most surprising transfer of the NBA offseason to date got here when it was introduced the Milwaukee Bucks could be signing massive man Myles Turner. Main as much as that second, it was a foregone conclusion that Turner would return to the Indiana Pacers with a brand new, profitable contract, one that may see the Pacers paying the luxurious tax for the primary time since 2005. All reporting indicated Indiana was utterly positive paying the tax to retain Turner.

Nonetheless, circumstances modified after Tyrese Haliburton’s devastating Achilles tear in Sport 7 of the NBA Finals.

Haliburton’s harm not solely zapped the life out of Indiana’s title odds in that decisive Sport 7 that the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder ultimately went on to win — it utterly altered the Pacers future. As a substitute of attempting to get again to the NBA Finals subsequent season with primarily the identical roster, Indiana had to consider the massive image, which meant Turner turned collateral injury because the Pacers weren’t as snug paying the tax for a crew that would not be contending subsequent season.

As a substitute of suiting up for the one franchise he is ever performed for, Turner will probably be sporting Bucks inexperienced subsequent season, one thing which will take some getting used to for Pacers followers. Whereas subsequent season is a number of months away, the Bucks launched Turner to a crowd of reporters in Las Vegas as a lot of the league descends on Sin Metropolis for summer time league. Listed here are the most important takeaways from Turner’s introductory press convention.

Alignment points with Pacers led to signing with Bucks

It was surprising to everybody that Turner signed with Milwaukee, and reviews surfaced the Pacers did not supply Turner what he wished for a brand new contract, which led to him bolting for the Bucks. Though Turner did not expound on it a ton, he did word that there have been “alignment points” with him and the Pacers, which led to him signing with the Bucks.

“There have been alignment points, I believe on that facet, you realize, so far as me and them,” Turner stated. “Simply out of respect for his or her group, out of respect for this group, I am not gonna converse on that an excessive amount of. However, you realize, once more, this was simply one of the best determination for me transferring ahead, and one of the best match.”

Turner did word that it was a troublesome determination to go away the Pacers, having been the longest tenured participant on the crew after being drafted eleventh general within the 2015 draft.

“There have been plenty of selections that went into it, it wasn’t a simple one,” Turner stated. “I spent 10 years of my life in a single place. I used to be a teen once I received to the Indy market, and once I simply sat again and began to guage issues and simply see the place I used to be in my profession, see the place was in my life and what I wished for myself, I simply sort of noticed what the Bucks had been placing collectively. And I used to be excited concerning the alternative. I had nice dialog with Doc [Rivers] and Jon [Horst], and clearly my agent as properly, and my household. And I believe we simply all determined, and finally I made a decision that, that is the place I wanted to be.”

Turner additionally talked about that he was “very open” to the concept of enjoying for a unique crew, so it sounds as if this determination was about extra than simply not getting sufficient cash from Indiana.

Bucks offered alternative to remain aggressive

As talked about, plenty of the reporting round Turner’s determination to go away Indiana centered on the Pacers not providing sufficient cash to retain him. There is definitely some fact to that, however on Friday Turner talked about how Milwaukee offered a chance to stay aggressive. When requested if Haliburton’s harm led to his determination to go away Indiana, Turner did not straight reply it, however he did reply in a technique to recommend that it could have performed a minimum of a small position.

“Being within the NBA Finals is one thing that was one of many biggest studying expertise I’ve ever had,” Turner stated. “You simply notice how onerous it’s to get there, how onerous it’s to win, simply how mentally exhausting it’s, bodily, all the pieces. It is simply among the finest experiences in my whole life. And the one factor that went into this determination was to get that have as soon as once more, and I noticed a match and alternative right here to make that occur.”

Turner additionally stated that the most important think about his determination was “staying aggressive,” which in a roundabout manner you would assume that — given Haliburton’s harm holding him sidelined for subsequent season — he did not assume the Pacers would offer that chance.

“In the end, it was about simply staying aggressive,” Turner stated. “Two years in the past, received to Japanese Convention Finals. Clearly, final 12 months we received to the NBA Finals. However being there, being a part of it, successful basketball has simply modified my whole perspective on this league, and I noticed an opportunity to stay aggressive right here. Jon [Horst], even Doc [Rivers] has assured me that successful is a high precedence right here, and we simply align with our visions.”

It sounds as if Turner did not wish to basically burn a 12 months of his prime ready for the Pacers to get totally wholesome once more with the intention to get again to the NBA Finals. Couple that with the truth that Indiana wasn’t keen to provide him a contract within the vary of what he wished, and it is sensible why he determined to go away.

Pleasure round enjoying alongside Giannis

On paper, a frontcourt of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Turner is as formidable as they arrive. Turner can unfold the ground out to the 3-point line, permitting Antetokounmpo to nonetheless function with a most quantity of house, whereas additionally giving the Bucks a alternative rim protector with Brook Lopez signing with the Clippers. We’ll see how that duo works out if truth be told, although coach Doc Rivers is thrilled concerning the prospect of strategizing round these two.

“I advised Myles simply in the event you might sit down earlier than free company began and draw the right match subsequent to Giannis, it was an image of him,” Rivers stated. “…The match is ideal, and never solely that, we wished to get youthful. We have finished that. Myles simply turned 29, so in a single swoop, we’re a youthful basketball crew the place we wish to play at a greater tempo, which we began doing. It is simply all these items all got here collectively. So yeah, I am desirous about it now, and I will give it some thought all summer time.”

Turner was additionally excited concerning the prospect of now not having to play towards Antetokounmpo, but in addition enjoying with a veteran group of men.

“I used to be uninterested in taking them rattling shoulders and elbows in my chest from somebody that is as forceful as he’s,” Turner stated. “It is a rarity on this league that you just get to be alongside a generational participant. Arguably one of many biggest gamers to play this sport. However not even that, I simply take a look at this roster and the way it’s tooled, and I competed towards these guys for the previous two seasons. There was a respect from afar about how they went about their enterprise. My former crew we had been younger and hungry, and I take a look at this crew as a veteran group of men that wish to win by any means essential. Simply battling them in a collection it simply woke one thing up in me just a little bit; I used to be simply sort of curious to see what that may be like.”