The New York Knicks front office has some big decisions to make at the February 6th NBA trade deadline. Do they stand pat, hope Mitchell Robinson returns from foot surgery, and chase a title with this group? Do they trade young players and/or draft compensation for rotation depth? Or, do they make a smaller blockbuster involving Robinson to seriously upgrade the roster?
Leon Rose made four meaningful deals in 2024, so we know he’s not afraid to capitalize on the trade market. Many names have floated around as possible Knicks targets, from Jonas Valanciunas to Chris Boucher to Ayo Dosunmu. However, if they want to make a splash and materially change their championship odds, the name they should pursue is Myles Turner.
Knicks Should Pursue Myles Turner at Trade Deadline
Now, it is somewhat unlikely that Indiana will decide to move on from their longtime center. He’s been a Pacer for ten seasons and has continued to get better in his late 20s. Turner is also a big reason for Indiana’s successful rebuild, which earned them a Conference Finals birth a year ago. They currently sit fifth in the East after winning 16 of 21 games, three full games clear of sixth-seeded Miami. Right now, they would get a first-round rematch with the team they ousted in six games last season, the Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee is a better team this year, but Indiana’s speed and up-tempo is a phenomenal matchup formula to beat them.
However, Turner’s $19.9M contract expires after this season, making him an unrestricted free agent. For a small-market franchise that already has two max players in Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, Indiana may struggle to meet Turner’s market. To make matters worse, Andrew Nembhard‘s extension kicks in starting in 2025-26, jumping from around $2M to $18.1M. Breakout stud Bennedict Mathurin is eligible for an extension next year as well.
Indiana should make Turner a Pacer for life, but simply might not have the means to do so. If Indy feels they may lose him for nothing, they should at least hear what teams have to say. They’ve clearly discussed trading him before, most notably rumored to the Lakers for several years, which never materialized.
Should Knicks Be Interested?
Why should the Knicks pursue Turner? Well, it’s simple. He provides an upgrade over Robinson both on the floor and durability-wise. Turner has played in 60 or more games in seven of his nine seasons and is on pace to do so again this year. Meanwhile, Robinson still hasn’t recovered from a foot injury that occurred in last year’s playoffs, and there’s no guarantee that he suit up for the Knicks this year. Tom Thibodeau has been noncommittal at every turn about his center’s recovery, and New York simply cannot afford his absence, unless they bring in a replacement.
Turner is also a massive upgrade over Robinson as a basketball player. He provides all of the defensive versatility at 6-foot-11 that Robinson does, and is a great rim protector in his own right. He would seamlessly replace the Knicks big man and fit perfectly into Thibodeau’s defensive-minded culture. He’s certainly not the rebounder Robinson is, but it’s a small price to pay for Turner’s true value over Big Mitch: his offense.
For a true big man, Turner is a spectacular offensive player. He is a 36% career three-point shooter and is hitting at 40% from deep this season on over five attempts per game. He’s a true stretch big who can also put the ball on the floor to make plays, attack the basket, and play in the post. Turner’s true shooting has eclipsed 59.9% for five straight seasons, making him one of the most efficient scorers in basketball. Additionally, he is a proven playoff riser, having an incredible run to the East Finals last season (17.0 PPG on 63.7% true shooting). Turner would provide Jalen Brunson with another great pick-and-roll partner, as he can approximate what Karl-Anthony Towns brings to the table.
NY’s Package Centers Around Mitchell Robinson
Obviously, Leon Rose isn’t trading any of his expensive starting five this deadline under any circumstances. If NY is serious about acquiring Turner, they’ll have to send Robinson and his $14.3M to Indiana. After that, they’d likely have to include Jericho Sims, Cameron Payne, and one of their promising young players (Tyler Kolek, Ariel Hukporti, or Pacome Dadiet). Additionally, Rose would need to send draft compensation, possibly a first-rounder or multiple second-rounders.
This kind of deal is definitely unlikely from both sides, as Indiana is hesitant to move their franchise center, and it would be an extremely aggressive move by New York with no guarantee of Turner resigning. However, it would instantly boost their title chances, and give them the best top-seven players in the league. If the Knicks want to truly go all-in in 2025, they should at least make the call.
