Since trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, many have wondered if Myles Turner will be among the next Milwaukee Bucks on the way out. For now, he looks safe, but things could change quickly, especially as the NBA Trade Deadline inches closer. With a weak center class projected for 2027 free agency, perhaps Turner could command plenty of attention to tackle that problem beforehand if the Bucks made him available.
Upcoming free agent class could do Bucks a favor
The list of soon-to-be available centers isn't anything to write home about. Outside of Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert, who will all likely ink new extensions with their current teams, there aren't many big fish. It's a class full of role players and young big men who have team options that their squads will almost certainly accept, such as Bucks youngster Kel'el Ware.
That will leave teams sorting through players like Isaiah Stewart, Deandre Ayton, Andre Drummond, Jock Landale, and others. While those are all solid players who are in the NBA for a reason, none of them are big fish. If a team is in need of a legitimate upgrade next summer, it will be hard to come by. They'd have a better opportunity locking down their next starting center in Myles Turner.
Turner can build his value back up with the Bucks
Turner's value isn't exactly high around the league right now after his messy first season in Milwaukee. While some teams might poke around his availability, the general consensus is that he'd be more of a salary dump at the moment. If Turner rebounds from a down year, that could change very quickly, as he could be one of the main players driving discussions at the 2027 NBA Trade Deadline.
The big man is in a better position to succeed individually than he was last season, one could argue. Even with all of the ugly behind the scenes chatter aside, Taylor Jenkins feels like a clear upgrade at the coaching spot over Doc Rivers, who never quite found the best way to unearth Turner. One of his main goals as coach should be to rejuvenate Turner and show he's still one of the NBA's top centers.
Who knows, perhaps if Turner does bounce back in a big way, the Milwaukee Bucks would hang onto him and look to build with him in the fold. However, given their pivot to youth, it would make plenty of sense if they dangled him in trade talks, but only if they are getting a proper return. Turner's play this season will determine exactly what that might look like.
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