The Indiana Pacers decided to move Roy Hibbert this past offseason and traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Myles Turner was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft to replace him, and showed legitimate star potential during the Orlando Summer League for the Pacers. Larry Bird is extremely excited about him, and Turner is ready to show his star potential as a rookie this season.
Turner has drawn quite a few comparisons to LaMarcus Aldridge since being drafted, which is an excellent sign for the Pacers. If he can become anything like Aldridge, the Pacers will have gotten the steal of the draft.
During his freshman year of college last season, Turner was not used even close to the type of potential that he had. He averaged just 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Those numbers made him look like a bad pick for the Pacers, and coupled with his awkward running style made him appear to be a very dangerous pick.
After seeing him play during the summer league, the offensive talent that he has was finally noticed by the NBA scouts and fans.
He showed off an impressive post game to go along with an above average mid-range and perimeter shooting ability for a big man. Indiana is looking to run a much faster tempo on the offensive end of the court, and that will fit Turner's game very well. Hibbert was an absolute wreck when it came to that area of the game, and was a poor offensive player to say the least.
At 6-foot-11 and 243 pounds, Turner already has the type of body that an NBA big man needs to have. He isn't going to be as good of a defensive player as Hibbert was, but he is more than capable of changing shots.
Indiana doesn't have a lot of depth in the frontcourt, and the Pacers are going to need Turner to play immediately. Jordan Hill will likely start at center and Ian Mahinmi is capable of playing, but they will need Turner on the court. Neither Hill nor Mahinmi is going to be a big offensive presence, which is where Turner will come into play.
It will be very interesting to see what ends up happening with the Pacers' frontcourt throughout the 2015-16 season. There is a good chance that Turner will end up starting at some point in the season, but he isn't expected to start immediately as a rookie.
Frank Vogel will work him onto the court slowly but surely, and will try to help him learn the game before throwing him to the wolves.
There is no question that the Pacers are going to give Turner every chance to earn immediate playing time. The fact that Bird has been so excited about the rookie big man gives fans a reason to be excited about him.
Expect to see Turner come out with a chip on his shoulder and looking to prove what kind of a player he really is in his first year. Indiana is a perfect fit for him, and it'll be interesting to see what ends up happening in his rookie year. One thing is for sure, and that is the fact that the Pacers could have gotten a future star in the young big man out of Texas.
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