Myles Turner focused on present amidst trade rumors - “Just go out there and focus on getting wins”
Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner has been a primary figure in some trade rumors as of late. However, in light of this activity, the center mentions that his priority is winning.
Turner has become a rather common name in trade rumors. After primarily being linked with the LA Lakers in trade talks for Russell Westbrook, the center has garnered a lot of attention in recent months.
The 26-year-old has certainly displayed his value as a player this season. Notching an average of 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, Turner is doing everything expected of a center.
This uptick in productivity has also pushed other teams such as the LA Clippers to take an interest in him. However, amidst all this chatter, Myles Turner appears to have his priorities set.
In a recent interview with The Athletic's Law Murray, Turner was asked about his thought process during games while being involved in all these rumors. He replied:
"Nothing changes. Just go out there and focus on getting wins for this team. That’s just where my focus lies. You can’t pay attention to outside noise … doesn’t change anything, bro. All I can do is go out there and play my game."
Myles Turner says he’s staying focused, tuning out trade rumors nba.nbcsports.com/2022/11/30/myl…
Needless to say, Turner has certainly been impacting games for the young Indiana Pacers squad. With Indiana shocking the league with a 12-9 record and ranked fourth in the East, the Pacers look like a tough squad to beat.
This held particularly true when the young team beat the LA Lakers in their recent meeting. With Turner and Buddy Hield playing against the team they are so heavily linked with, the two managed to hand a loss to the Purple and Gold after a ferocious fourth-quarter comeback.
Myles Turner recorded an impressive 15 points and 13 rebounds while facing up against Lakers center Anthony Davis. Meanwhile, Buddy Hield also scored 15 points on the night. However, his 3-point shooting wasn't something worth taking note of in this game.
Trade rumors linking Myles Turner and the LA Lakers are at a standstill
Trade rumors linking the Indiana Pacers and the LA Lakers were practically booming earlier in the season. A majority of the rumors suggested that Russell Westbrook would head over to Indiana in return for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. This continued to simmer as the Lakers' season progressed.
Unfortunately, the Purple and Gold were hesitant to make a move as the deal also involved parting ways with their limited draft capital. In this regard, there has been virtually no movement or new information on this front.
The situation has also seen Turner step in and promote the notion of trade at one point. While highlighting his abilities, the Pacers center mentioned how he could aid the team in their endeavors. However, his actions did little to push the Lakers to make a trade.
As things stand, Turner has garnered attention from the LA Clippers as well. Meanwhile, the Lakers are unlikely to make any trades happen before mid-December. As per reports, the Purple and Gold may even consider retaining Westbrook rather than trading him.