The Bucks' offense has been humming to start the season, but Myles Turner has not pulled his weight. The new center is averaging just 9.8 points per game and shooting 40 percent from the field. Turner has been a solid anchor for the Bucks' defense, but his scoring is not living up to his contract.
Turner needs to find his offense quickly
Other Bucks have stepped up in Turner's slump, but they need Turner to step up for sustained regular season and postseason success. He was advertised as a 3-and-D center to pair alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, but he hasn't spaced the floor effectively yet. Turner is shooting a middling 36 percent from three (down from his 40 percent last season) despite taking three-fifths of his shots from downtown.
Turner's down year is especially disappointing considering the price the Bucks paid for his services. Not only are they paying him an average of $27 million per season, but they also waived Damian Lillard to free up cap space for Turner. Getting single-digit points from a player with that contact severely limits the Milwaukee Bucks' offense and financial situation.
Bucks fans have been frustrated by Turner's unwillingness to attack the rim. Even when he takes the rare 2-pointer, many of them are from the midrange or floater areas rather than taking the final step to the rack.
He seems to forget that he's 6-foot-11 and 250lbs, even with mismatches against guards in the post. Turner often looks like he's playing the part of yet another Bucks guard running around on the perimeter rather than being the team's center.
Additionally, Turner's overall level of aggression has been insufficient. He's taking just 8.8 shots per game this season after averaging north of 13 attempts per game his last three seasons in Indiana. It's nice for him to step aside and let younger players shine when they've got it going, but he needs to take more responsibility as a scorer when the offense struggles.
Giannis is doing all he can with his averages of 32 points and six assists per game; he needs Turner to help take some of the load, too. Turner has never been the strongest self-creator, but having only 11 percent of his made field goals be unassisted is unacceptable. He should be in the prime of his career and is being paid well beyond the rate of a role player.
Myles Turner's defense has been solid to start the season, but he needs to show more two-way value. His impact has not been felt on offense at all, and the Bucks will need him to score more as they enter a tough stretch soon. Many of their upcoming opponents in November have been excellent defensively, so points will be hard to come by. Let's hope Turner contributes a few more than he has been.