In an offseason filled with blockbuster moves and wild rumors, few were more surprising than Myles Turner trading Pacers blue for Bucks green. For weeks, all signs pointed to Turner re-signing in Indiana, a deal reportedly so solid it would’ve nudged the Pacers into luxury tax territory for the first time in 20 years.
Then Tyrese Haliburton went down in Game 7 of the NBA Finals – an Achilles tear that changed everything. With their franchise point guard sidelined for the upcoming season, Indiana pivoted. Their win-now model no longer made sense, and Turner suddenly became the odd man out.
Milwaukee moved quickly. And they had a not-so-secret recruiting weapon: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I Was Tired of Those Elbows”: Turner Finds His Fit in Milwaukee
“Giannis reached out right away,”Turner said at his Bucks introduction in Las Vegas. “We talked about vision, fit, culture. It felt genuine. It wasn’t just about basketball-it was about legacy.”
Turner admitted there were “alignment issues” in Indiana after Haliburton’s injury. He didn’t slam the door on his former team, but it was clear the situation shifted fast. “There was a mutual understanding,” he said. “They’re recalibrating. I wanted to keep competing.”
Doc Rivers and Bucks GM Jon Horst pitched Turner on a new-look frontcourt, one where his rim protection and shooting would complement Antetokounmpo’s drive-heavy game. With Brook Lopez now in L.A., the role was wide open.
“Doc told me, ‘You next to Giannis-that’s the picture we were drawing before free agency even started,'”Turner said, grinning.“Hard to argue with that.”
The move is personal, too. “I’ve been in Indy since I was 19. This wasn’t just a basketball call-it was a life decision,” Turner added. “But I look at this roster and it’s built to win. And after the Finals experience, I know how close we were. I’m not ready to take a step back.” Now, he won’t have to.
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