Myles Turner is an integral part of the new-look Indiana Pacers, but the rookie and first-round draft pick has been sidelined because of a fractured left thumb that required surgery and will keep him out of the lineup for multiple weeks.
Continue for updates.
Turner Undergoes Surgery
Monday, Nov. 16
The Pacers confirmed Turner will miss six weeks after the procedure.
Turner's Injury Will Test Pacers' Depth at Center
When the Pacers' 2014-15 season ended, the team made it known it wanted to play at a faster pace with smaller lineups that can wear opponents down.
Turner, who is listed at 6'11" and 243 pounds, fits into that scheme. He has long limbs and can play inside or out, depending on the situation.
However, Sam Venecie of CBS Sports noted that Turner's gait had become a hot topic of debate among NBA personnel before the draft when he was taking short strides with bad posture while at Texas.
Turner didn't have any injury problems in college, so the additional scrutiny may just be typical player-evaluation nonsense. This setback will certainly impact what the Pacers hope to achieve offensively, especially with little depth at center.
Indiana has plenty of talent to be a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference, but Turner's development will determine if the team is a title threat or just happy to be there.
