NBA star who begged Lakers to trade for him could seal huge pay rise

Indiana Pacers star Myles Turner could seal a pay rise when he hits free agency next summer. The center has been linked with a trade after impressing in the early stages of the 2022/23 NBA season.Speculation has surrounded Turner for some time and he’s currently in the final year of his contract. His situation means the Pacers could try to find a trade involving the 26-year-old in order to get some value out of him before he hits free agency.Turner will certainly receive major interest and a number of big-money offers should he hit the market next summer. HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto suggested Turner could command offers of over $20million (£17.9m) when discussing his situation with Pacers beat writer Scott Agness. ‘There’s a belief around the league looking ahead that Turner and his team will seek over $20m (£17.9m) annually in free agency as an unrestricted free agent,’ Scotto reported. ‘Previously, there were rumblings about a potential Malcolm Brogdon type of extension around those numbers (two years, $45m [£40m]).’READ MORE: Kyrie Irving set for showdown talks with NBA commissioner Adam Silver Myles Turner was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft (Image: GETTY)He added: ‘Some executives I’ve spoken to think that he can earn up to that $20m (£17.9m) annually. Some compare him in the Clint Capela range ($21m [£18m] next season).’If Turner is traded, there might be a coinciding extension agreement – but he will likely receive the contract he craves regardless of the team he plays for to finish this season. He has been most linked with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers, who suffered five successive losses to open the new season.The Lakers have been linked with a trade for Turner and Pacers teammate Hield, with the two teams reportedly close to finalising a deal that would have sent former MVP Russell Westbrook to Indiana in the summer. However, negotiations collapsed after the Pacers demanded the Lakers’ first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 to get the deal over the line. Los Angeles are in need of a spark following a 2-5 start to the season, and Turner is averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game. He’s a career 48.8 percent shooter from the field and a 34.8 percent shooter from deep, which would undoubtedly help the Lakers amid their shooting woes.DON’T MISSCurry frustrated by Golden State Warriors not living up to ‘standard’Dwight Howard ‘disrespected’ after NBA anniversary snubNBPA responds after NBA legends criticism of silence to Irving post Myles Turner led the NBA in blocks in 2019 and 2021 (Image: GETTY)