Myles Turner already justified his contract extension by putting himself in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. As far as bang for your buck goes, the Indiana Pacers have one of the best defenders in the NBA, that’s worth the $18 million a year he’s owed in upcoming seasons.
But if the Pacers want to do more than serve as a speedbump to the Boston Celtics, Turner must be more than merely a great defender. Indiana needs him to step up his offense. The whole team needs to after Game 1, but this is more of a long-term issue for Turner.