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NBA Trade Deadline 2020: 5 Myles Turner trades that could help the Pacers

By Ian Levy

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 4: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers looks on during a game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on January 4, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 4: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers looks on during a game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on January 4, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – JANUARY 03: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic between plays in the third quarter against the Miami Heat at Amway Center on January 03, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – JANUARY 03: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic between plays in the third quarter against the Miami Heat at Amway Center on January 03, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry Aaron/Getty Images) /

4. Get a lot dunkier

On paper, Gordon isn’t an upgrade over Turner at either end of the floor. He’s a more versatile defender but the sum total of his work on defense doesn’t measure up to Turner’s rim protection. He’s not a viable spot-up threat and might not add much space to Indiana’s offense in scenarios where Sabonis has the ball in the post or at the elbows. What Gordon does offer is a kinetic energy that take the team in a different direction.

He’s an elite finisher in transition and as a cutter. With Oladipo returning there will be more movement and creation injected into the offense. Just keeping Gordon in constant motion as a screener and cutter should distract the defense and he’ll get all sorts of easy buckets off the passing of Brogdon, Sabonis and Oladipo.

Birch is a live body around the basket who can help make up for a small part of the rim protection gap Turner’s departure would create.

The Magic spent big money on Nikola Vucevic last season but Gordon seems like he’s hit the wall in this developmental situation. Recreating the Sabonis-Turner frontcourt logjam with Turner and Vucevic is still probably a step forward from the pairing between Gordon and Vucevic.

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