NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Rookie Of The Year In 2015-16
3. Myles Turner
Perhaps this is a bit of a surprise, but if you want to talk about rookie studs at NBA Summer League, look no further than Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers. In three Summer League games, Turner averaged 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and a staggering 4.3 blocks per game. He shot 60.5 percent from the floor and even converted two of his three three-point attempts for good measure.
Simply put, Turner was a man among boys, defending the rim with the kind of authoritative shot-blocking ability the Pacers desperately need following the departure of Roy Hibbert. Even with the team gearing toward small-ball, starting veteran Jordan Hill over Turner would just feel all kinds of wrong.
Paul George on rookie Myles Turner: "If he doesn’t pan out to be great, it’s my fault" http://t.co/45fgW8Mx8U pic.twitter.com/yqHEYrtPdg
— 8 Points, 9 Seconds (@8pts9secs) September 29, 2015
I get that the Pacers are competing for a playoff spot and that Hill is far more NBA-ready than Turner might be at this point. But if Paul George is really going to be logging heavy minutes at the 4 in these small-ball lineups, the Pacers’ defense is going to be toasted time and time again without a specialist rim protector. Enter Myles Turner.
It’s not just the defensive end where Turner will shine either. As a stretch-4 or stretch-5, Turner would make the Pacers’ position-less brand of basketball unstoppable in the East. Don’t forget, Larry Bird referred to him as “the best shooter on the team.” The league doesn’t know how good Myles Turner is yet, but they will soon enough.
Next: No. 2