Then again, it is a beautiful transfer for Turner, who spent his first 10 years within the NBA with the Pacers and was the crew’s longest-tenured participant because it made a Cinderella run all the way in which to Sport 7 of the NBA Finals this previous season.
Charania indicated that Turner wanted to stay in Indiana, however the Pacers did not need to go over the tax, particularly within the wake of star guard Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tear. With the Pacers unwilling to make a proposal, the Bucks got here in and stole Turner from a division rival.
The Bucks try to retool on the fly and construct a championship-level supporting solid for Antetokounmpo amid rumors that the “Greek Freak” would request a commerce from Milwaukee. Nonetheless, this signing reveals that the Bucks are all in on conserving their championship window open and making their franchise celebrity pleased.
Turner gives the Bucks with three-point capturing and nice inside protection. Final yr, the Bucks had been one of the best three-point capturing crew within the league, according to NBA Advanced Stats, so placing a floor-spacing middle like Turner into an offense that already likes to shoot threes looks like a match made in basketball heaven.
Milwaukee additionally wanted assistance on the defensive finish. Whereas its 12th-ranked defense from last year wasn’t terrible, it was nowhere close to championship degree, and Turner can absolutely assist elevate the crew’s defensive acumen.
In some ways, Turner will slide proper into the function by which the Bucks’ earlier middle, Brook Lopez, served. Like Turner, Lopez may stretch the ground in addition to he may defend the paint. Lopez performed his function completely throughout the Bucks’ 2021 championship run, and if Turner is usually a youthful, extra athletic model of Lopez, the Bucks ought to return to title competition as soon as once more.
That is additionally an incredible match for Turner, as taking part in alongside Antetokounmpo will shore up a number of the holes in Turner’s sport, most notably offensive rebounding.
It is robust to see Lillard’s time in Milwaukee come to such an unceremonious ending, however the Bucks are making the proper selections to return to title competition.
