Redrafting the fifth pick from the 2015 NBA Draft
By S.W. Guest
Myles Turner
Although the Indiana Pacers are struggling this year, Myles Turner has proved to be a great fit with Larry Bird’s new up-tempo approach.
Quick, long and athletic, Turner is a 6-foot-11, 243-pound big man built for the modern game and would be an excellent fit for any team looking to play small.
Taken 11th overall, he averaged 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game as a rookie, while shooting a shade worse than 50 percent from the field and 21 percent from three.
His sophomore season has seen an improvement in all those numbers, as Turner is currently putting up 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, while shooting 53 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep.
Throw in the fact he is making just less than 80 percent of his free throws this year while contributing a 1.8 offensive win shares and a 1.5 defensive win shares and you have a pretty great all around package that has been turning heads all season.
One of his biggest admirers may be Doc Rivers, who told the Indianapolis Star recently:
"“Turner is going to be a superstar. I think no one will argue that. In fact, it will probably happen quicker than any of us thought. He’s special.”"
And it is hard to argue with that, as the youngster appears to be refining his game on a nightly basis.
Playing for Indiana – a team currently trying to forge a new identity – has helped. But given his versatility and the fact he is now adding a 3-point shot to his game it seems as if Turner would have been a good fit just about anywhere.
Not least with the Magic, where a frontcourt pairing with Aaron Gordon would have undoubtedly resulted in bags of fun.
Had Rob Hennigan drafted him instead of Hezonja, it seems likely he could have avoided trading for Serge Ibaka, or signing Bismack Biyombo to a long-term deal.
Turner is, after all, a lot more athletic than Serge Ibaka and more well-rounded than Bismack Biyombo.
Next: OMD Podcast: The Charlotte Hornets Method
Clearly, the Magic had a few options and a few risks the team could have taken. The 2015 rookie class has struggled at the very top as even players like Stanely Johnson have fallen out of the rotation like Hezonja. It seemed fit and opportunity mattered as much as anything for this struggling rookie class. Hezonja is still waiting for his opportunity.