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NBA: Ranking the top 5 future beasts of the East

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 5, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives for the basket against New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) in the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives for the basket against New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) in the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 5, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) smiles after a made basket in the second half of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Indiana Pacers beat the Brooklyn Nets 121-109. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Myles Turner

If not for the three players ahead of him on this list, we’d be exalting Myles Turner as the stretch-5 who will own the East for years to come. At age 20, he’s already starting at center for the Indiana Pacers, and though they rank 16th in defensive efficiency, Turner and his 2.5 blocks per game (third in the NBA) can hardly be blamed for it.

In just his second season, Turner is averaging 15.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He’s shooting 53.8 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from three-point range. Before you wonder, ‘Well okay, but how many threes is he actually shooting?,” suffice it to say that his 1.6 attempts per game make him a legitimate stretch-5.

Right now, the Pacers are still Paul George’s team. But even with a revamped roster that includes PG-13, Turner, Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young, they aren’t having the season people were expecting.

Five years from now, George will be 31 and either playing for another team or enjoying his twilight years as a second or third option. It won’t be long before this is Turner’s team, and with such elite shot-blocking abilities and shooting prowess already coming to the forefront at age 20, the future is incredibly bright for this youngster.

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