Tyrese Haliburton was asked about Myles Turner's departure. Here's what he told Pat McAfee Show
- Myles Turner spent the first 10 years of his NBA career with the Pacers before signing with the Bucks this offseason.
Tyrese Haliburton appeared on the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN on Tuesday for his first public comments since his Achilles tendon tear in Game 7 of the NBA Finals which also meant his first comments since stalwart center Myles Turner left the Pacers to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Turner spent 10 years with the Pacers, playing only in Indiana since he was drafted in 2015. Haliburton and Turner developed a close and productive partnership as part of the Pacers' ball-screen actions and as part of the team's leadership as it built from a lottery team in 2022-23 to the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years this season.
Haliburton was asked about Turner's departure and was diplomatic in his response.
"Since I've gotten here and for the last 10 years Myles' name has been synonymous with our organization," Haliburton said. "He's done a lot here, and I think that people have really taken a liking to Myles. He's done some great things, been a part of some great groups. At the end of the day it is a business, he's gotta do what's best for him. I wish him the best moving forward. My focus is on the guys here and getting better here, but I wish him the best moving forward."
Turner entered free agency for the first time after his most recent two-year extension expired. The Bucks surprised the NBA by waiving and stretching seven-time All-NBA guard Damian Lillard to create cap space and offered Turner a four-year, $107 million deal, which Turner took.
Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said he felt like the Pacers were working toward a deal with Turner and that they were "in the ballpark" of an offer similar to the one the Bucks gave. But he indicated the Pacers were not given an opportunity to counter Milwaukee's offer.
Turner discussed his decision to sign with the Bucks in a news conference in Las Vegas during the NBA Summer League. He said the decision was "ultimately about staying competitive" and he felt like signing with the Bucks would give him a chance to return to the NBA Finals.
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