The Golden State Warriors’ reported stance on Myles Turner says plenty about how they’re approaching the market: if they’re going to take on a move that doesn’t cleanly fit, they want something back for the trouble.
According to the report, Golden State isn’t showing much interest in veteran center Myles Turner, and the Warriors are even seeking draft capital in a potential deal for the Milwaukee Bucks big man. That’s the kind of hard-nosed position Bucks fans are likely to roll their eyes at, especially with the Warriors’ own situation involving Kristaps Porzingis, but it’s exactly the sort of front-office posture Golden State supporters tend to appreciate.
Milwaukee fans have plenty of reason to push back on the idea. Dalton Sell of Behind the Buck Pass came down hard on the notion that the Bucks should be the side attaching value to move Turner.
"A player like that (Turner) should net the Milwaukee Bucks something of value if they look to move him. They should not be the ones forced to attach capital to move him, even if he is on the books for the next several years," Sell wrote.
Still, from Golden State’s side, the logic is clear enough. Turner doesn’t fit Milwaukee’s timeline, and he has two more years left on his contract at a number that is far from team-friendly. The Warriors may like what he could bring on the floor, but they also have to think about what he does to their books.
That’s the real issue here. Turner would give Golden State a starting center right away, but his deal would also eat into the flexibility the Warriors want to preserve for next summer’s free agency. If they’re taking on nearly $57 million over the remaining two years, they’re not going to do it just to chase a quick fix without some compensation attached.
There’s also the salary wrinkle that makes this more complicated than a simple swap. Turner makes more than $6 million more than the injured Golden State center, which means another contract would need to be included.
At the moment, the most realistic path would involve Moses Moody, even though he’s working back from a torn patellar tendon injury. Even with that injury in the picture, the argument can be made that Moody is more valuable than Turner when you factor in their contracts.
And that’s part of why this isn’t a move the Warriors are likely to make lightly. Moody was a starter before he got hurt, and Golden State isn’t going to part with him easily. That’s also why Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the front office may be pushing for draft capital in any Turner discussion.
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