Indiana Pacers Reveal Bombshells.

The Indiana Pacers have dropped a major bombshell regarding the exit of their long-time center, Myles Turner, confirming that they were fully on board to exceed the luxury tax threshold in a bid to keep him—a strategy ultimately outmaneuvered by the Milwaukee Bucks’ financial creativity.

 

Pacers president Kevin Pritchard revealed that Indiana was “fully prepared” to venture “deep into the tax” to retain Turner—even with star guard Tyrese Haliburton’s season-ending Achilles tear looming over the franchise ([espn.com][1]). He stated:

 

> “Herb Simon and Steven Rales and the Simon family were fully prepared to go deep into the tax to keep him,” he said. “\[We were] negotiating in good faith, but…we saw that he had accepted an offer with Milwaukee.

 

What makes this revelation even more startling is that Pritchard and his staff learned of the deal the same way many fans did—via a tweet from Shams Charania announcing Turner’s four‑year, roughly \$107 million pact with the Bucks .

 

Turner, who spent a decade in Indiana and was instrumental in their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game last season, shooting an impressive 39.6% from three. Despite Pritchard’s insistence that the team was prepared to offer significantly more than Milwaukee’s contract, Turner chose the Bucks—citing a better fit for his family and career.

 

By creating cap space—stretching Damian Lillard’s remaining contract—Milwaukee made a savvy move, drawing criticism but also signaling intent to Giannis Antetokounmpo ([talksport.com][4]). Indiana, left without its defensive anchor and with Haliburton sidelined, faces the difficult task of rebuilding its frontcourt.

 

The Pacers quickly swung into action, acquiring center Jay Huff from Memphis as a short-term remedy ([espn.com][1]), and are reportedly exploring more permanent solutions—such as former Blazers big man Deandre Ayton .

 

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## What This Means Moving Forward

 

* **Indiana’s offseason shift**: Losing Turner places added pressure on the Pacers to rethink their frontcourt strategy. With Haliburton’s injury and now Turner gone, their window to win is narrowing.

* **Milwaukee’s calculated gamble**: The Bucks took a financial risk to bolster their roster around Giannis—a move that may influence his future decisions ([talksport.com][4], [brewhoop.com][6]).

* **The salary cap message**: Pritchard’s admission challenges the narrative that the Pacers were unwilling to spend—it was more a case of being outmaneuvered at the negotiating table.

 

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### Final Take

Indiana’s transparency is notable—many teams would stay quiet under such circumstances. But Pritchard’s public confirmation underscores how fiercely the Pacers fought to retain Turner, only to be scooped by an opponent willing to stretch in unconventional ways. It’s a turning point that reshapes both franchises’ trajectories.