Evan Turner appears to be a man without a team.
The trade deadline swap that sent Turner from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Indiana Pacers has proven to be an utter disaster for Indiana, with the team going just 12-10 since acquiring the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft.
According to BleacherReport.com, it was Turner that All-Star center Roy Hibbert was referring to as being “selfish” during his recent rant about the Pacers’ fall from front-running Eastern Conference grace.
And what’s more, Turner has reportedly started to butt heads with Lance Stephenson, the Pacers’ prized free agent commodity that could change his earlier stated intention to return to Indiana.
After starting the season 41-13, the Pacers have struggled mightily since Turner came to town. And after being one of the Sixers’ top scorers, the four-year veteran has shot only 40 percent in Indiana, averaging just 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
Turner’s less-than-expected play has spelled dire consequences for the entire team, particularly the second unit he was expected to propel. “Evan Turner hasn’t worked out, leaving (coach) Frank Vogel to experiment in the last weeks with a pile of sudden rotation changes,” Grantland.com recently opined.
Besides his spotty play, Turner’s addition has also been hard on the Pacers based on what the team lost in gaining him. Veteran forward Danny Granger, whom the team dealt for Turner, was one of the Pacers’ most popular players and considered one of its most respected leaders.
On the day the trade was announced, star forward Paul George took to Instagram to post “on a serious note, upset day for me losing a big brother and mentor. Hate to see him leave us. You helped me so far along the way big bro. Still one of my toughest match-ups. Nothing but love for you Geezy.”
