The Indiana Pacers are reeling from a tough NBA Finals defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder — and the blow was made even worse by the loss of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a torn Achilles.
Haliburton is now expected to miss the entire 2025–26 season, casting uncertainty over the Pacers’ plans for the offseason.
Before the injury, there were reports that Indiana was prepared to go into the luxury tax to keep its core intact.
One key piece of that core is center Myles Turner, who is set to hit free agency this summer and is widely expected to return.
However, free agency always brings unpredictability. While the Pacers may want to keep Turner, money often plays a decisive role, and there’s always a chance he could move on.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley recently made a series of predictions ahead of free agency, including one on Turner. According to Buckley, the big man is projected to stay in Indiana.
“If re-signing Turner remains the aim, then it’ll be interesting to see if Indiana considers cutting costs elsewhere. What’s less interesting for big-man shoppers, though, is that it doesn’t seem like Haliburton’s injury will push Turner out of the only NBA home he’s ever known. Prediction: Turner re-signs with the Pacers for five years and $155 million,” Buckley wrote.
Myles Turner has long been a cornerstone of the Pacers’ system, and despite a disappointing performance in the NBA Finals, he’s still expected to return. Given their lack of depth in the frontcourt, Indiana should be doing everything possible to retain him.
Assuming Turner does re-sign, the Pacers should remain competitive next season.
While Haliburton’s absence will likely keep them out of serious title contention, Indiana could still be in the mix for a playoff berth.
