The Milwaukee Bucks staged a thrilling comeback against the Miami Heat on Tuesday, clinching a 128-117 victory. Yet, for center Myles Turner, the night unfolded differently. Limited to just 19 minutes and benched in the fourth quarter, Turner's role was handed over to Jericho Sims and Bobby Portis.
Fans have been waiting for Turner to find his groove this season, but it seems that turnaround might not be in the cards. The four-year, $109 million contract the Bucks offered him in free agency is starting to look like a heavy burden. With over two-thirds of the season gone, it’s becoming evident that the Bucks' front office may have to swallow this costly decision.
Turner's performance on Tuesday was less than stellar-1-for-5 from the field, two points, five rebounds, and two steals, with a minus-four in the box score. When Turner was off the floor, the Bucks fell behind by nine points early in the final quarter. However, a lineup featuring Portis, Sims, and Ousmane Dieng sparked an 11-1 run, with Doc Rivers opting to close the game with Portis, Sims, and three guards.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo out, Turner was Milwaukee's highest-paid player on the court, but he watched from the sidelines. Sims logged 29 minutes compared to Turner's 19, while Portis and Dieng played 24 and 22 minutes, respectively.
To be fair, it was only Turner's second game back from a calf strain. Even in a season that hasn't met expectations, this was an unusually poor outing. He recently put up 14 points and two blocks against Toronto.
But here's the thing: even when Turner is performing, he isn't delivering the impact the Bucks envisioned. Averaging 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, he's still hitting threes at a 38 percent rate, but his overall field goal percentage is a career-low 44 percent. In his decade with the Pacers, Turner shot nearly 50 percent from the field.
Milwaukee anticipated Turner would produce more given greater opportunities. During his last three years in Indiana, he averaged 16.8 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks per game. Despite the Bucks' need for frontcourt scoring, especially with Giannis sidelined, Turner hasn't filled that gap.
It's not entirely on him. The coaching staff, led by Doc Rivers, hasn't fully tapped into his potential. Yet, with more than 50 games as evidence, Turner's effectiveness without Tyrese Haliburton setting him up is increasingly questionable.
Looking at the bigger picture, this underwhelming first season in Milwaukee might just be the beginning. Perhaps it's merely a rough transition, but waiving Damian Lillard to sign Turner and absorbing $113 million has left a financial strain that could limit future moves.
If Turner continues to underperform relative to his contract, trading him for assets becomes unlikely. For now, and possibly for the foreseeable future, the Bucks are tied to Turner. He might not be the cornerstone they hoped for, and until things change, Milwaukee will have to come to terms with that reality.