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OKC Thunder: 3 players to target using trade exception

By Tamberlyn Richardson

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 29: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks rebounds during the first half of an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at State Farm Arena on February 29, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 29: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks rebounds during the first half of an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at State Farm Arena on February 29, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
OKC Thunder: Bam Adebayo drives to the basket against Pacers Myles Turner. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /

Player to target using trade exception No. 2) Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers

With the OKC Thunder restructuring the roster, it equated to the trade of Steven Adams to the Pelcians (which created this tax exception) while backup center Nerlens Noel joined the New York Knicks in free agency. That’s your starting and backup center gone in one season.

Granted, the Thunder made the trade with the 76ers to add Al Horford but there are two issues with this addition. First, Horford prefers to play the power forward role instead of the center position. That creates its own set of dynamics for Mark Daigneault to address with Darius Bazley who is tapped to take over the starting power forward position.

But the other major factor is Horford while a quality vet doesn’t factor into the future of the restructuring OKC Thunder. He’s already 34-years old and that doesn’t come close to fitting the timeline for the Thunder core when they hit their prime.

For years there wasn’t a need to add a big man with Steven Adams patrolling the paint and delivering all the little things that never showed up on the stat sheet.

Myles Turner is a younger version of Adams who’ll turn 25 at the end of March. He’s signed through the 2022-23 season for an economical $18 million per year.

Per Game Table
Season G MP FGA FG% 3PA 3P% 2PA 2P% eFG% FTA FT% DRB TRB AST STL BLK PTS
2015-16 60 22.8 8.8 .498 0.2 .214 8.6 .506 .501 2.0 .727 4.4 5.5 0.7 0.4 1.4 10.3
2016-17 81 31.4 10.7 .511 1.4 .348 9.3 .536 .534 3.7 .809 5.6 7.3 1.3 0.9 2.1 14.5
2017-18 65 28.2 9.8 .479 2.4 .357 7.4 .519 .523 3.2 .777 5.0 6.4 1.3 0.6 1.8 12.7
2018-19 74 28.6 10.5 .487 2.6 .388 7.9 .521 .536 2.7 .736 5.8 7.2 1.6 0.8 2.7 13.3
2019-20 62 29.5 9.5 .457 4.0 .344 5.4 .540 .530 2.7 .751 5.2 6.6 1.2 0.7 2.1 12.1

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/2/2020.

The fit with Domantas Sabonis in Indiana hasn’t worked as well as Kevin Pritchard envisioned. Sabonis has blossomed into the player the Pacers want as part of their core while Turner became the disposable big man. Although his statistics took a dive this past season with his point total (12.1), rebounds (6.6) and perimeter efficiency (34.4 percent) regressing the question has to be asked how much of that was a factor of trying to force-feed Sabonis and Turner playing side by side?

In a lineup where Turner could return to playing in the paint his prowess at shot-blocking and glass cleaning should rebound (no pun intended). Furthermore, his 3-point efficiency likely took a step back because he was being parked on the perimeter potentially forcing up more 3-balls than what was coming within the natural flow of the offense.

Conversely, with the Thunder, Turner would have the benefit of playing with a group comprised of Al Horford – but long term with Darius Bazley and Aleksej Pokusevski if he develops as hoped. Neither Baz of Poku is expected to be players who’ll be paint beasts so Turner is a great fit.

Kevin Pritchard is notorious for his economical contracts and the Pacers never like to spend close to the luxury so this move makes sense for Indiana who could finally move on to find the right big to fit Domantas.

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