Portland Trail Blazers: Going for Myles
Chris Phillips
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Turner v Ayton
Most of the NBA knows what Turner can and can’t do by now. He’s a rim-protecting, three-point-shooting big man. He can form an excellent pick and pop or pick and roll game with Damian Lillard. That’s based on what he’s done so far, but Turner has never played with a point guard of Dame’s quality.
The gamble with Turner is that he’s under contract for only this season. Does Cronin make the trade and a) give Turner an immediate extension or b) let him prove himself to the team and Dame? Of course, if Turner has a great year, he might want more money than the Blazers can give him. Leaving Rip City right back in this same situation next off-season.
If Portland immediately signs Turner to an extension or does a sign and trade with Indiana, he will likely be cheaper than Ayton. Turner projects to be around $20M a year, whereas Ayton wants around $35M. By landing Turner, Portland still has some cap space to use on re-signing Anfernee Simons and possibly getting another Josh Hart-like quality player.
Ayton is younger and a better rebounder than Turner. There is also the thought his game can go to another level with the development or encouragement of a jump shot. The former number one overall draft pick in 2018 shoots 75 percent from the free-throw line. It’s not far-fetched to think he can extend his range to at least that far, if not the three-point line.
A trio of Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and Ayton probably has a higher ceiling (making it to the Western Conference Finals at worst). However, if Ayton’s shot isn’t “unlocked,” it’s highly debatable if he’s a max contract player. Then he’s just a younger and more athletic version of Nurkic.
Myles Turner just dunked over 3 Pelicans 😳 pic.twitter.com/GVhhJ7BBFx
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 21, 2021