Bucks GM Jon Horst explains how new signing Myles Turner can be 'agent of change'

In an extensive new conversation with The Athletic's Eric Nehm, Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst has indicated how his biggest offseason signing, ex-Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner, can abet the Bucks.

Milwaukee unlocked the cap room necessary to ink the 3-and-D free agent big man to a four-season, $108.9 million contract by stretching and waiving the remaining $112.6 million owed to ex-Bucks All-Star point guard Damian Lillard.

Lillard, 35, tore his Achilles tendon during a first round playoff encounter with Indiana, and could miss most or all of the next season as he recovers. With nine-time All-NBA Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo itching to advance deep into the postseason, Horst made the difficult decision to move on from Lillard and bring in a massive upgrade over departed former starting center Brook Lopez.

When asked by Nehm how he thought Turner could serve as "an agent of change" with regards to the Bucks' playing style, Horst unpacked how the 6-foot-11 Texas product's addition could open things up for Milwaukee.

"One of the things that I love about the acquisition for us — one of many things — is there’s no question that it opens up things for us to do differently. But, largely, it allows us to be the same in the ways that we’ve been really great also. We’ve been a team because of Giannis’ style of play and Doc’s style of play and the way that I love the game of basketball, we’ve always spaced the floor, we move the ball, we shoot a lot of 3s, and Giannis thrives in that."

Turner, who's significantly more mobile than the 37-year-old Lopez, will allow Milwaukee to employ more of a downhill, pace-and-space offense around Antetokounmpo.

Like Lopez in his prime, Turner is a solid rim protector and long range sniper — the prototype of a modern NBA center. Last year, Turner connected on 39.6% of his 5.5 triple tries a night. He's a better defender on switches than Lopez, although perhaps not as effective while covering opposing players man-to-man.

"And so Myles is a great floor spacer. We love to be big and physical and defend the rim, and Myles does that," Horst adds. "He’s elite at defending the rim. And I think that we needed to grow in our perimeter speed and our perimeter ability to navigate the pick-and-roll game, which is such a big part of the NBA now. To have multiple switch defenders on the floor. To play faster offensively and defensively in transition. And I think Myles adds that, as does Bobby (Portis) in a bigger, more important role for us than I think that he’s ever been in."

Milwaukee re-signed Portis to a three-season, $43.6 million deal this summer. Portis is not nearly the defender that Turner or Lopez is, but is a solid shooter and post scorer.

"I think that is one of the things that’s a little bit undertold is keeping Bobby and letting Bobby play in the way he played near the end of the season," Horst remarked on his ability to retain the 29-year-old. "He’s really increased his shot speed. I mean, he really gets rid of the ball quicker. His shot quality has really improved. He understands he can dominate around the rim, rebound the basketball, shoot the ball on the perimeter."

The Bucks also brought back big man Jericho Sims, a midseason trade acquisition who flashed some intriguing potential as a pick-and-roll partner for Lillard.

"Jericho (Sims) was one of the best switch defenders in the playoffs. He’s got a limited, limited sample, but I believe that he can do it. He’s an elite rim protector. He’s big, he’s physical, he’s athletic. I think the core four of those guys as a frontcourt is as good as anybody. And I think that it’s largely the way that we’ve been dominant in that space over 10 years. But I also think it gives us a chance to modernize and catch up in some of the other areas as well."

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