The Atlanta Hawks could finally turn their attention to Indiana Pacers center Myler Turner this offseason, but anyone expecting him to be the cure-all may be severely let down.
Turner, who turned 29 in March, profiles as the paint-protecting, shot-swatting pivot many Hawks fans have clamored for for years. Turner is a two-time blocks champion, blocking fewer than 2.0 per game once in the last seven seasons.
He also connected on a career-best 39.6% on 5.5 looks per game (also a new high) last year.
Turner is not a strong rebounder. He has averaged fewer than 7.0 rebounds four times in the past six seasons, though he averaged 6.9 RPG in 2023-24, and never more than 7.5 RPG.
It is not as simple as saying Turner is a bad rebounder, though. The Pacers sported a higher offensive rebounding percentage with Turner off the floor, while their defensive boards took a hit in those situations, per Cleaning The Glass.
The drop on the defensive side was more severe than the improvement offensively.
Moreover, signing Turner would be a chore for the Hawks. Turner is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but he is a key reason the Pacers are in the Finals.
Even if the Pacers were to let Turner go, “Locked On Hawks” host Brad Rowland noted that it would take a sign-and-trade for Atlanta to land him. This is not to say that Onyeka Okongwu, the Hawks’ starting center, is the answer.
That is a different discussion.
Onyeka Okongwu worth sticking with under most circumstances
The former No. 6 overall pick has turned into an offensive dynamo, but one with some clear defensive shortcomings. The Hawks remedied that somewhat late in the season with Mouhamed Gueye.
Getting Jalen Johnson healthy and keeping him that way would also go a long way to masking some of Okongwu’s deficiencies.
However, he and Trae Young will likely be in plenty of defensive actions together.
Okongwu’s lack of size is mostly an issue against bigger centers, which is ominous for a team with playoff aspirations. The Hawks maintained on the glass defensively when Okongwu sat last season, but their offensive rebounding suffered.
There is give and take with any player, and the Hawks must keep that in mind if they are looking for upgrades over Okongwu.
Okongwu is nearly five years younger than Turner and under contract for three more years.
Okongwu represents a more encouraging bird in the hand than some other situations for a Hawks team already skewing toward younger players. The Hawks need a specific kind of player to justify moving off of him, and Turner, while close, does not fit the bill.