Indiana

Myles Turner hopes to stay focused on the day-to-day grind in contract year with Indiana Pacers

Published

3 months ago

October 4, 2024

Myles Turner hopes to stay focused on the day-to-day grind in contract year with Indiana Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS — The biggest question facing the Indiana Pacers team-building future relates to center Myles Turner. Of Indiana’s five starters from last year’s playoff run, four of them are under contract for the next three seasons. Turner, however, is playing on a contract that expires at the end of the ongoing season, and he can’t receive a contract extension during the campaign.

That means Turner is guaranteed to be a free agent next summer, regardless of what teams he finishes the season with. That team should be Indiana — general manager Chad Buchanan shared late last month that the franchise hopes to keep Turner around long term. “We’re a big believer in Myles. We want him to be here. He’s been our starting center,” Buchanan said.

Between luxury tax concerns and unrestricted free agency, this will be a talking point all season long. Turner has never been an unrestricted free agent before in his career, so his own interests will matter when the summer of 2025 arrives.

For Turner, contract and free agency topics are nothing new. He was frequently in trade rumors earlier in his career, and his contract status was a common discussion for years. When Domantas Sabonis was in Indiana and when the Pacers tried to sign Deandre Ayton, Turner didn’t seem to be a priority.

Now, things are different. Turner is right at home and entering his 10th season with the franchise. He fits extremely well with the team’s stars, and the blue and gold have prioritized his situation across the last few seasons. Dating back to his renegotiation in 2023, Turner and the Pacers have crafted a great relationship.

The big man discussed his contract reality and situation with the Pacers at media day earlier this week. “I can’t help but laugh, because, I’m going to keep it a stack man, every year in Indiana has been a contract year at this point,” Turner joked. “Whether you’re fighting rumors or just staying true to your grind and whatnot… I don’t really feel too much different, because at the end of the day, that success last year is what I’ve become obsessed with.”

May 27, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) attempts to shoot the ball during the second quarter during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

In 2024, Indiana finally won a playoff series for the first time in a decade. It was Turner’s first time advancing beyond the first round of the postseason, and he now understands why other players chase that feeling. It has been motivating.

In other words, winning will be important for Turner and his future decisions. The Pacers project to be a playoff team again, but winning a series in the Eastern Conference will be challenging. The top of the conference looks terrific.

“I’ve become more obsessed with just the everyday little stuff,” Turner said, citing his stretching and water drinking habits, among other things. “Just that process. And I think that anything that happens after that will be a byproduct of the success.”

Indiana will have full Bird Rights on Turner next summer, so they can pay him any legal contract. Other starting caliber centers have signed deals in the $25-30 million per year range recently, and that would be a six-to-ten million dollar per year raise over Turner’s current deal. He’s earned a bigger contract with his play in recent years.

Much of Turner’s future with Indiana will be decided on the court. How he plays, and how much success the team has, could matter in the coming months. But clearly the team and player value each other, and another successful season could extend that partnership beyond 2024-25.

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Indiana

The Indiana Pacers Need Tyrese Haliburton To Find Consistency

Published

6 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

The Indiana Pacers Need Tyrese Haliburton To Find Consistency

MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 02: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball during the … [+] third quarter against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on January 02, 2025 in Miami, Florida. 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 Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)

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Last season, the world saw the early-season rise of Tyrese Haliburton, in which the Pacer guard averaged over 26 points, and 12 assists per game, leading his team to the number one offense in the NBA.

Unfortunately, an avalanche of injuries, including to his knee, ankle, hamstring, and back, forced Haliburton to play the majority of the season in limited fashion. His numbers, understandably so, fell to a point where fans and pundits essentially decided to wait for this season, 2024-2025, to see his full production return.

Inconsistencies

37 games into this season, however, Haliburton is nowhere near the same place as he was to start last season. His 18.4 points, 8.8 assists, and 3.7 rebounds are stil All-Star caliber numbers, but for a team that was expecting their point guard to return to his elite levels of production, it’s been a rough year.

Fortunately for the Pacers, they’re 19-18 and are winning at a decent rate, at least decent enough compete for a Top 6 playoff seed, which means avoiding the play-in tournament altogether. This, in large part, is due to the play of Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin, and Myles Turner.

Haliburton unquestionably plays a big part in their winning record, inconsistencies aside, but there seems to be a lingering feeling that the Pacers would be considerably better if he was back to form.

In seven games this season, Haliburton has failed to crack double-digit scoring. The Pacers have lost each and every one of those.

In the six games he’s scored over 30 points, they’re 5-1, and have outscored their opponents by 51 points in those five wins.

It’s not rocket science to conclude that teams tend to win more when their best player is producing at elite levels, but in the case of Indiana, it’s absurdly relevant given how one small losing streak can put them right back into play-in territory.

Deadline goals

The Pacers do have a little under a month to further upgrade its roster, which should help offset some of Haliburton’s inconsistent play.

Indiana doesn’t have a major pool of assets to toy around with, and they’re currently over the luxury tax limit by a hair over $400,000 which means they’re probably looking to also shed money to get under it.

(Historically, teams that are so close to go under the tax line make deadline moves that save them just enough to get under, so they can partake in receiving payments from the teams that do go over.)

Can the Pacers make a roster upgrade, and simultaneously get under the tax line? It’s not impossible, but they’ll have to carefully construct a deal that helps both of their endeavors, while also making sure to not waste too much of their future flexibility.

If possible, the franchise should seek out a shooter who can also rebound the ball.

The Pacers are one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA, and while they rank seventh in three-point efficiency, they rank just 27th in attempts, and are thus in need of volume.

Those players aren’t easy to find, so they’ll have to get creative.

Hope ahead

Setting aside the trade deadline, there might be good news coming for the Pacers in regards to Haliburton.

Over his past five games, the 24-year-old has averaged 25.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds, including a 33-point, 15-assist performance against Miami.

This has been Haliburton’s best stretch of the season, and the Pacers would love to see him maintain this level of production, especially as they’re paying him over $244.6 million over the next five seasons.

Should the Pacers succeed in making a real upgrade before the deadline, and get Haliburton back to form, they could become a serious surprise team in the East by April.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

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Indiana

Indiana basketball vs. USC expert prediction, start time, TV channel for 1/8/25

Published

14 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Indiana basketball vs. USC expert prediction, start time, TV channel for 1/8/25

Indiana basketball returns home on a four-game winning streak to host USC in Big Ten action on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

The Hoosiers (12-3, 3-1) are coming off a victory over highly regarded Penn State in Philadelphia as Oumar Ballo carried the first half and Mackenzie Mgbako heated up early in the second half. Malik Reneau (knee) missed the game, but team officials have said they don’t expect him to be out long term. IU is the Big Ten’s best rebounding team (76.7% defensive rebounds in conference games, 1st; 37.7% offensive rebounds, 2nd).

The Trojans (9-5, 1-2) lost to Michigan over the weekend as they scored just 3 points in final 3 minutes. USC struggles rebounding (68.9% defensive, 12th; 28.6% offensive, 12th) and it doesn’t attempt many 3-pointers (5.0-of-15.7 per game, 31.9% in conference). The Trojans continue to miss Terrance Williams II, the Michigan transfer who suffered a broken wrist in December.

Want more Hoosiers coverage? Zach Osterman and Michael Niziolek keep up with IU all season. Sign up for IndyStar’s Hoosiers newsletter.

Indiana basketball prediction, pick

Zach Osterman, IndyStar: Indiana 88-81

Indiana has been playing better of late, with good, tough wins against Rutgers and Penn State. USC isn’t bad so much as finding itself, and this feels like the kind of game where a young team rises to the occasion. IU struggles but wins.

When does Indiana basketball play today?

7 p.m. ET Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.

What channel is the IU basketball game on?

Indiana basketball odds

ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Indiana a 65.4% chance of winning.

Indiana basketball rankings vs. USC

Through Jan. 5

Indiana projected starting lineup

(with 2024-25 season averages)

USC projected starting lineup

Desmond Claude (14.9 points, 3.9 rebounds)
Chibuzo Agbo (12.8 points, 39.1% 3-pointers, 4.3 rebounds)
Josh Cohen (9.7 points)
Saint Thomas (9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists)
Wesley Yates III (9.1 points)

Indiana basketball schedule

Jan. 2: Indiana 84, Rutgers 74

Jan. 5: Indiana 77, Penn State 71

Wed., Jan. 8: vs. USC, 7 p.m., BTN

Sat., Jan. 11: at Iowa, 8 p.m., Fox

Tues., Jan. 14: vs. Illinois, 7 p.m., Peacock

USC basketball schedule

Dec. 22: USC 82, Southern 51

Jan. 4: Michigan 85, USC 74

Wed., Jan. 8: at Indiana, 7 p.m., BTN

Sat., Jan. 11: at Illinois, noon, BTN

Tues., Jan. 14: vs. Iowa, 10:30 p.m., BTN

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Indiana

Historic Cypress Log Cabin at Indiana Dunes National Park now available for overnight stays

Published

22 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

Historic Cypress Log Cabin at Indiana Dunes National Park now available for overnight stays

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team

Tuesday, January 7, 2025 1:06AM

Historic Cypress Log Cabin at Indiana Dunes National Park available for stays

You can now stay at the one-of-a-kind Cypress Log Cabin at Indiana Dunes that was originally built for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair.

CHICAGO (WLS) — You can now stay at the one-of-a-kind Cypress Log Cabin at Indiana Dunes that was originally built for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair.

At the end of the World’s Fair in 1935, the home, which is one of the famed “Century of Progress” houses, was taken to Beverly Shores, Ind., where it has stood since.

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It spent several decades as a private home, and then was restored through a program between Indiana Landmarks, the National Park Service and several private parties.

The cabin was previously only accessible to the public through limited National Park tours.

You can book a stay by visiting INtheDunes.com.

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