NBA executives expect Myles Turner to re-sign with Pacers

With next season now a wash, the Pacers are still deciding how to handle their financial future, according to league sources. Do they keep everyone together and pay the tax in 2025-26? Or do they make a cost-cutting move or two with Haliburton sidelined and with a squad whose success is capped next season? The Pacers have 10 players under contract for 2025-26. Their salaries alone carry them only $20 million short of the luxury tax line. Those 10 do not include longtime starting center Myles Turner, who hits free agency June 30. Even if he were to re-sign even for a contract well below market value (say, $18 million a year, which is slightly less than he makes now and isn’t realistic), his new salary would send Indiana into the tax. -via New York Times / June 28, 2025

During his weekly radio interview Tuesday morning (YouTube link), Pacers coach Rick Carlisle dispelled any speculation that the team might be less inclined to re-sign Myles Turner after losing Tyrese Haliburton to a torn Achilles, relays Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. There have been reports that owner Herb Simon would be willing to pay the luxury tax if it becomes necessary to reach a new deal with Turner. That was before Haliburton’s injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals that might sideline him for a full year, which figures to hamper Indiana’s chances to be competitive next season. However, Carlisle insists nothing has changed. “I don’t think it’s any secret that the franchise, at this particular moment, that that is the No. 1 priority,” he said of Turner. “I don’t know anything about money or numbers or years, or any of that kind of stuff, but Myles is a very important part of what we’ve done here, what we’ve been doing. He’s a very important part of the history of the franchise, certainly over the last decade. I know that will be a big topic. I’m not privy to every little conversation going on there, but Myles is a very important part of what we’re doing. That will be a big thing.” -via Hoops Rumors / June 24, 2025

Meanwhile, the Pacers’ success was contingent on its screening style. Indiana isn’t necessarily wrecking defenders with bone-crushing screens. Instead, it often has other objectives. “Your ultimate goal is to create some kind of contact at some point,” center Myles Turner said. “But we are just trying to free up space.” -via New York Times / June 24, 2025