Pelicans Trade for Myles Turner in Hypothetical Deal: Should they?

Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers walks onto the court during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers walks onto the court during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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New Orleans Pelicans, Myles Turner, Brandon Ingram
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 28: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers drives the ball around Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

New Orleans Pelicans: Examining Myles Turners’s Fit

Why the Pelicans would do it

Honestly, I don’t think they would.

But since this is a hypothetical, I will give it a go.

On paper, Myles Turner fills a lot of needs for the Pelicans. They need a center, preferably one who can stretch the floor, and they need rim protectors.

Turner provides those things, as he is a 35.7% career shooter from long-range and blocks over two shots per game.

Turner is not a great rebounder, but he can step away from the hoop to stretch defenses and he can block shots. He’d make the Pelicans much more dynamic offensively and give the team the rim protector they covet.

Turner would definitely be an upgrade over Derrick Favors and would give young Jaxson Hayes a few more years to develop, which he needs.

The Pels could also use some players who aren’t always injured and Turner has missed very few games in his career. He’s still only 24-years-old and works with the Zion Williamson/Brandon Ingram timeline.

The Pels could just move Holiday over to point, start Josh Hart at the shooting guard and would potentially have a dynamic offense and improved defense.

It all sounds good, but the Pelicans should probably run anyway.