​Photo Credit: © Jeff Hanisch. Column: If the Bucks are rebuilding, Myles Turner deserves one more move — and Atlanta is the perfect destination
Myles Turner wasn’t supposed to be part of a rebuild. When Milwaukee signed the longtime Indiana Pacers center last summer, the plan was simple: pair one of the NBA’s premier rim protectors with Giannis Antetokounmpo and chase one final championship. Instead, that window closed. Giannis is gone, the Bucks are entering a new era, and Turner now finds himself on a team with different priorities. That’s why it may be time for both sides to move on.
At 30, Turner remains one of the league’s most distinctive centers. He’s a two-time NBA blocks leader who can anchor a defense while stretching the floor on offense. Last season he averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and shot nearly 38% from three, a combination few seven-footers can match. His ability to protect the rim without clogging the paint has made him one of the NBA’s most coveted modern big men. If Milwaukee is truly committed to building around youth and draft capital, Turner becomes one of its most valuable trade assets.
The Atlanta Hawks should be paying close attention. Atlanta’s offseason has been aggressive, with president of basketball operations Travis Schlenk previously reshaped the roster around defense, versatility and long-term flexibility. The Hawks also added a frontcourt development piece in the draft, selecting North Carolina center Henri Veesaar in the second round after he slid out of the first. Veesaar averaged 17.0 points and 8.7 rebounds at UNC, shot 60.8% from the field, posted 15 double-doubles, earned second-team All-ACC honors, and was a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award finalist. But asking a second-round rookie to immediately fix Atlanta’s biggest weakness would be unrealistic. The Hawks need a proven veteran at the five.
Turner checks virtually every box. His shot-blocking would immediately bolster a defense that already features elite perimeter defenders in Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Offensively, his shooting would create more room for Trae Young and Atlanta’s dynamic wings while enabling five-out lineups without sacrificing rim protection. Most importantly, Turner fits the timeline. Atlanta isn’t rebuilding anymore; it’s aiming to win. The Hawks have built a young, talented roster, but the final step toward real Eastern Conference contention is stabilizing the center position. Turner could provide that from day one.
Trade speculation has already linked Atlanta to Turner in various scenarios, and the rationale is clear: the fit makes basketball sense for both organizations.