NBA Trade Deadline 2020: One trade every team should make
Indiana Pacers: Myles Turner for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Danilo Gallinari and 2020 Nuggets’ first-round draft pick
Reason for Indiana: The Pacers are shockingly competent, and they’re about to get Victor Oladipo back from injury. Their window starts this year. And to maximize their team, they need to choose between Turner and Domantas Sabonis. Yes, we’ve been saying that for years, but the right deal hasn’t come along. This is the right deal. Sabonis is breaking out in a big way, and he’s a sneaky All-Star candidate. Gallinari would be the perfect frontcourt partner, as his unbelievable shooting, sneaking finishing, and terrific ball-handling at the power forward position would add to Indiana’s arsenal of weapons. Turner would be a big loss, especially if he grows into the star that he could become. But Gallo fits this team much better, and there’s also draft compensation. The Pacers would need to pay Gallinari this offseason to keep him, but he’s a great player, and they’re probably not getting anyone better for that money. They should pay him and keep the rest of the core together.
Reason for Oklahoma City: It’s nice and fun that the Thunder want to compete this season, but that only remains true until other teams start offering the farm for the Thunder’s vets. Turner could be the farm. As a shot-blocking, 3-point shooting center with ball skills and athleticism, he could become an absolute star if things click in the years to come, and the Thunder need to get hold of those players and never let them go. Turner and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would be the building blocks of the future, and their games would fit together perfectly. Getting Turner would necessitate the selling of other vets, specifically Steven Adams, but that’s worth it. Yes, the Thunder would like to sell Gallinari for a first-rounder instead of attaching one to him, but they’re not drafting anyone better than Turner. Plus, they’d be losing someone else’s pick, and Turner is underpaid on a four-year deal. This is a potential home run for the Thunder.