The latest on Myles Turner's health, contract situation and rumored involvement in trades
The latest on Myles Turner's health, contract situation and rumored involvement in trades
After his most frustrating and disappointing season as a pro, Pacers center Myles Turner looks forward to a healthy season. But will it be in Indy?
Much like the Pacers, Myles Turner had a disappointing 2021-22 season. He played in 42 games, the fewest of his career.
That’s led to a lot of questions surrounding Turner and frequent conversations about his future with the Pacers, who drafted him 11th overall in 2015.
His season was a disappointment simply because it ended halfway through. He was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot on January 18 and did not put on the uniform again.
“But the good news is that this situation was detected very early and there’s a very good chance that this can be more of a short-term thing than a long-term thing,” head coach Rick Carlisle said then.
At the time, the Pacers were 15-29 and had lost 13 of their last 16 games. They were headed for a rebuild.
There was some thought given to him potentially returning in the final weeks of the season. Ultimately, that didn’t make sense for Turner or the Pacers.
Why the rush?
Rather than have him play his way into shape and get to know several newcomers on the fly, they officially shut down his season on March 29 with six games remaining.
The team issued a statement that said, in part: “… there simply is not enough time remaining in the season to properly and safely prepare him for the demanding workload associated with an NBA game.”
And so, Turner, 26, did not finish the season for the second consecutive season. That’s a big blow for the Pacers, for Turner and for his annual quest to earn league-wide recognition as the defensive player of the year.
Before heading out for the offseason, he posted this message on Instagram:
“I can sit here and tell you this season was a ‘learning experience,’ ‘another year under my belt’ yada yada. But truthfully, I’ve never been more frustrated or let down as a pro. When you have something you love stripped from you without a moment’s notice it truly tests your character. Well, the hell with all that sad nonsense. I thank God every day that he built me different. Here’s to a dedicated offseason and all eyes forward to a healthy and prosperous year 8.”
How is he doing?
Myles Turner is now fully healthy, multiple sources told Fieldhouse Files. After some traveling once the season concluded, he has mostly been home in Dallas and training regularly.
“Explosive, just getting his rhythm back from missing so much time,” a source close to Turner told Fieldhouse Files. “The process has been great. No setbacks.”
That last part is important. No setbacks.
He’s full-go, both on the court and in the weight room.