Following the recent announcement of T.J. McConnell’s contract extension with the Indiana Pacers, the team now has nearly all of its key players secured under contract beyond the 2024-25 season.
In addition to McConnell, the Pacers have also extended Andrew Nembhard’s contract and re-signed Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin to long-term deals. Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith also inked extensions in 2023, keeping them with the team through 2029 and 2027, respectively.
As a young team coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, this is an exciting development for the organization. However, the biggest question mark in terms of the team’s future is the contract situation of veteran center Myles Turner.
Turner, who signed a two-year extension with the Pacers in 2023, is under contract through the end of next season. However, due to the structure of NBA contracts, the Pacers and Turner are unable to negotiate an extension before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next year.
NBA rules dictate that contracts must be at least three years long to be eligible for extensions, which makes Turner’s current two-year deal ineligible for renegotiation until it expires.
Despite this, it doesn’t necessarily mean Turner’s time with the Pacers is nearing an end. The 28-year-old, who has been with the team since being drafted 11th overall in 2015, is the longest-tenured player on the roster and has weathered the ups and downs with the franchise. With the Pacers now emerging as contenders, it would make sense for Turner to want to stay.
While Turner’s name frequently surfaces in trade rumors, nothing has materialized yet. He remains a perfect fit for the current roster and is a fan favorite. Although much can happen between now and next summer, it’s reasonable to believe that Turner will continue to be a part of the Pacers’ future for the foreseeable future.
