Steph Curry‘s injury might just turn out to be some form of blessing in disguise for the Golden State Warriors.
The former back-to-back Most Valuable Player winner suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1 of the Warriors’ second-round NBA playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which ultimately cost him the rest of the series.
The Warriors struggled mightily without Curry, eventually falling to Minnesota, 4-1, and it just emphasized the need to get this man some help. The result of losing their best player in the Wolves series might just force the Warriors’ hand to make a big move in the offseason.
They already swung for the fences with the Jimmy Butler deal, and it appears it still wasn’t enough. Curry’s injury, along with the fact that he has just a few more prime years remaining, could serve as enough motivation for the Warriors to go all out this summer.
One player that has already been linked to Golden State is Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner, who is competing for a championship in the NBA Finals. The 6-foot-11 center is entering free agency this summer, where he is expected to be one of the most coveted players on the market.
A new report from NBA insider Jake Fischer has indicated the Pacers remain in the driver’s seat in terms of re-signing Turner in free agency. The report also indicated the 29-year-old is expected to bag a massive deal in the offseason.
“There is a strong sentiment among various league executives that Turner will re-sign with Indiana,” Fischer reported. “Cap strategists are projecting his salary to land in the $30 million range in terms of average annual value.”
In 72 regular-season games with the Pacers, Turner averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. During Indiana’s postseason run, Turner is scoring 15.2 points, pulling down 5.1 rebounds and blocking 2.2 shots.
Given their salary cap situation, the Warriors won’t be able to compete with other teams in free agency. They could, however, still acquire his services via a potential sign-and-trade deal.
With the Pacers seemingly determined to retain Turner, the only way he ends up with the Warriors is if Turner is unable to agree to terms with his current team. This could open a window of opportunity for Golden State, but this will force them to make a big decision on whether or not they are willing to give Turner the money he wants.
The Warriors will also need to let go of some major assets — potentially Jonathan Kuminga and draft capital — in order to lure Turner away from Indiana. On top of that, Golden State also will need to perform significant cap-space maneuvering in order to accommodate Turner’s potential $30 million contract.
There’s no denying that it’s going to be a risky move for the Warriors, but considering what Turner brings to the table on both ends of the floor, it could be the type of make-or-break decision Golden State needs to make to contend for a championship in 2026 and beyond.
