The external doubt hasn't stopped pouring in since Myles Turner announced that he was signing with the Milwaukee Bucks. Plenty of outsiders don't think the fit will work, even taking it as far as to make a few bold claims. ESPN's Kevin Pelton is among them, saying "Turner's defensive upside isn't quite as high as [Brook} Lopez's." Given Turner's defensive pedigree, that's outrageous.
Turner gives Bucks a defensive upgrade over Lopez
Given Lopez's age and declining mobility, it made sense to swap him out for Turner. While Lopez can still be impactful, the Milwaukee Bucks just got a younger, more versatile option. It's clear that Lopez's impact had regressed in recent years and that it would only continue. It's why he's heading to Los Angeles to serve as a backup big man. A smaller role suits him better at age 37.
Accolade-wise, Brook Lopez takes the cake, as he has two All-Defensive honors, compared to none for Turner, who has two Block Champion titles. However, Lopez at least partially got those because of elite team defense, with other All-Defensive players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Eric Bledsoe around him to support him. Turner hasn't had that type of support. Now, he does.
Turner has always been great defensively, but now, he has arguably the best two-way player in the game supporting him. The big man has never had a defensive partner as great as Antetokounmpo, and they will certainly feed off of each other. Just like there was for both Lopez and Giannis, don't be surprised if either of them gets involved in Defensive Player of the Year chatter.
Even in his prime, Brook Lopez's weakness was always being dragged out to the perimeter, where opponents would feast on his lack of mobility and get to the hoop. While he's not elite in this regard, that is less of a concern with the more mobile Turner. He can at least hold his own more against some of the NBA's quicker, speedier guards. Versatility is so crucial in today's game.
Can Myles Turner reach the heights that Brook Lopez did defensively? Absolutely. Brook Lopez was 30 when he got to Milwaukee and became a stout defender. Turner is just 29 and has been one of the best defensive centers in the NBA for years. There's no doubt that he has higher upside, and that is saying a lot, given what Lopez showed over the last handful of years.
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