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Giannis Antetokounmpo's NBA career took an exciting turn on Monday.
After being stranded on a non-contending Milwaukee Bucks star for five straight seasons, the Bucks finally sent the NBA Finals MVP to a franchise that would give him a better chance to compete for titles: the Miami Heat.
Following the notable late June deal, there’s speculation that the Bucks could make additional roster moves to solidify their future. Specifically, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto has a hunch that Milwaukee could trade its 30-year-old shot-blocking stud, and the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics could be in the mix.
“With Antetokounmpo and (Bobby) Portis gone, all eyes turn to holdovers Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma as trade candidates for the Bucks,” Scotto wrote Tuesday.
“Turner has always known that if Antetokounmpo was ever traded, he’d be a strong trade candidate, HoopsHype has learned. During his (Indiana) Pacers tenure, Turner was linked to the (Charlotte) Hornets, (New Orleans) Pelicans, and Lakers in trade rumors at various points.”
“Those teams could all make sense now, and possibly the Celtics. Turner, 30, is still owed $83.55 million, including a player option for the 2028-29 season. Kuzma is on an expiring $20.49 million contract and can help a team with scoring. He shot a career-high 49.2 percent from the field last season.”
Turner has carved out a respectable NBA career for himself as a highly motivated, energetic rim protector who plays a multifaceted role on the other end.
The Texas product has averaged at least 1.4 blocks in each of his first 11 seasons, and is making positive strides as a perimeter shooter in kick-out, pitch-back, and pick-and-roll instances.
With Turner unlikely to be in the Bucks long-term plans, the Lakers and Celtics should be prepared to pry him from Milwaukee this summer.
Los Angeles’ starting center search is back on after failing to get the most out of DeAndre Ayton this past season. Walker Kessler, Jalen Duren, Mitchell Robinson, and Robert Williams are a few frontcourt targets that have popped up in trade rumors with the Lakers.
However, Turner is the more versatile offensive player and arguably the best interior defender among the bunch, making him a high-level trade option for the 17-time NBA champions.
The Celtics are in a similar position, as they need to take their average Luka Garza- and Neemias Queta-led frontcourt to the next level. Adding a polished two-way big man with NBA Finals experience will certainly go a long way toward helping them to do so.
It remains to be seen whether either contender reaches out to the Bucks about a potential trade for Turner.
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