Over the summer, the Milwaukee Bucks signed Myles Turner in free agency, making a move that no one saw coming. In order to make that happen, the Bucks had to use the waive-and-stretch provision on Damian Lillard.
That means that the Bucks will pay Lillard around $22.5 million over the next five seasons for him not to play in Milwaukee. In order for something like that to work, Turner needs to be the second-best player on the team behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With Antetokounmpo hurt, the Bucks have looked to Turner to step into an elevated role. Head coach Doc Rivers gave an honest assessment of how Turner has looked so far, and he didn’t have many good things to say about his play.
GettyMyles Turner passes the ball. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks Coach Doc Rivers Gets Honest on Myles Turner’s Play
Rivers conceded that it has not been very good so far for Turner.
“I think it’s gone okay, not great yet. I think Myles is gonna be way better later than he is now. He’s been in one place for 10 years. It’s just gonna take a minute. We talked about thatYet he’s still very positive in the locker room, been great around the guys. The plus/minus numbers are all pluses when he’s on the floor. So, whatever he’s doing, he’s doing something good for our team. And that’s a good thing.”
Turner spent the first decade of his career with the Indiana Pacers before signing a four-year deal worth $108.9 million with Milwaukee. Yet, his numbers are down across the board from what they were a year ago, despite being counted on to produce more.
In fact, Turner has the worst shooting percentage of his career so far. Turner also has the worst net rating since his rookie year, which is not what the Bucks were looking for when they paid him that much cash. It has been a struggle for him in a new place.
GettyMyles Turner shoots the ball. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
Myles Turner Doesn’t Have Much Time to Figure It Out
Even though Rivers believes that Turner will figure it out later in the year, he doesn’t have that much time to figure it out. With Antetokounmpo hurt, the Bucks are in danger of falling out of the playoff race completely. Right now, they sit 10th in the Eastern Conference standings.
With Antetokounmpo likely not coming back for another couple of weeks, Turner needs to turn his offensive game around in a hurry. If he doesn’t, Antetokounmpo could ask out of Milwaukee before the trade deadline rolls around. At that point, the Bucks would facilitate a rebuild.
Not having a point guard like Tyrese Haliburton generating open shots for Turner in the pick-and-roll and the pick-and-pop has clearly had a big effect on his game. He hasn’t figured out a way to get more open shots and find ways to impact the game offensively.
Rivers didn’t seem too down on Turner, but he has to project confidence that he will figure it out.
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