The Utah Jazz don’t need to go chasing Myles Turner right now.
Ever since Walker Kessler was traded, the conversation around who might fill that spot has followed the Jazz all offseason. For the moment, Utah seems content with its frontcourt, and that makes sense. This is shaping up to be the first winning season the Jazz have had in years, but nobody should be mistaking them for a championship team yet.
That doesn’t mean the center situation can’t turn into a real issue later. If Utah proves to be more playoff-ready than expected and looks like it’s one upgrade away from getting into the mix, then the search for Kessler’s replacement becomes a much bigger deal. That’s where Myles Turner enters the picture as a partial fit - though not a clean one.
Right now, Turner’s trade value appears to be about as low as it has ever been. ESPN’s Ben Golliver said Milwaukee has had a hard time moving him since they traded Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"Though Antetokounmpo's exit was preceded by years of trade rumors, the Bucks didn't slide smoothly into a rebuilding effort... They haven't yet found a taker for Myles Turner, who was signed to a four-year, $107 million contract last summer in a failed attempt to appease Antetokounmpo," Golliver wrote.
Turner has been floated as a hypothetical Jazz target before - strictly speculation, not reporting - but there are obvious reasons he’s still in Milwaukee. He’s coming off a rough season, he’s due nearly $30 million a year for the next three seasons, and there’s also a 15% trade kicker attached.
That’s a lot to swallow. So for now, Utah should stay away.
There are, though, a few conditions that could change the equation. If the Jazz spend this season proving they’re closer to real contention than anyone expects, then a center upgrade becomes much more urgent. But even then, that wouldn’t automatically make Turner the answer.
He’d need a major bounce-back year to look like a worthwhile target. Milwaukee is clearly positioned to start over after Giannis, and new coach Taylor Jenkins may try to rebuild Turner’s value as part of a younger direction. The addition of Kel'El Ware could help push that along.
Utah would also need to show that the rebounding hole left by Kessler isn’t going to sink them. Turner doesn’t rebound well for his size, and that matters. If the Jazz build in a way that can cover for that weakness, the idea becomes more workable.
There’s also the contract side of it. A deal like Turner’s gets a little easier to manage when it shifts from three years left to two and a half. And following the Josh Green trade, Utah now has the salary filler to make that kind of move if it decides to.
Still, the answer to the big question is simple: not now. If Turner bounces back and the fit becomes clearer, then the Jazz would have a real reason to pursue him. But at this moment, they should leave that door shut.
In Other News...
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Bambas contract gives Utah a little flexibility, but it also creates a clear line of incentives. He would receive a $500,000 payment if he is on the roster for opening night, and the full $3.5 million salary kicks in if he lasts through January 10. For now, the roster math is moving in his favor, and in a transaction that was mostly framed around Greens arrival, Bamba may have been the unlikely name helped most by the deal. [Read more 🡒]
Victor Oladipo Is Chasing A Comeback Jazz Fans Know Well
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Dante Exum carved out that path in a way that still resonates around the Jazz. After multiple injuries and time away, he made it back with the Dallas Mavericks and settled in as a rotation player before another setback interrupted the run. Oladipo now sits in that same long, uneasy lane where late-career reinvention is still possible, and it is the kind of comeback effort that invites a little extra goodwill from fans who have watched similar perseverance before. [Read more 🡒]