The Golden State Warriors had previously been linked to Myles Turner for years, having been seen as an ideal stretch big for a team that previously needed a starting-level center.
It was the Milwaukee Bucks who took a huge gamble on the 30-year-old upon his departure from the Indiana Pacers, with their recent interest in Detroit Pistons big man Jalen Duren proving they regret the acquisition of Turner last offseason.
Jalen Duren interest highlights Bucks' Myles Turner problem
According to Sam Amick and Hunter Patterson of The Athletic on Monday, the Bucks are one of the teams interested in Duren -- likely as a precursor for next offseason -- as the 22-year-old's restricted free agency stalemate with the Pistons drags on.
That strongly indicates they're ready to move on from Turner after just one year, only that's going to be difficult to do so given the 11-year veteran still has three years and over $83 million left on the four-year deal they signed him to last summer.
Turner was supposed to be the last ditch hope to appease Giannis Antetokounmpo and secure the two-time MVP's future at the franchise. Instead, Turner had the most disappointing year of his career and Antetokounmpo is now a member of the Miami Heat after a blockbuster trade this offseason.
To make matters worse, Milwaukee waived-and-stretched Damian Lillard in order to create the space to sign Turner, and will now watch the nine-time All-Star suit up for the Portland Trail Blazers this season while they're the ones largely paying him.
The Bucks can have interest in Duren all they want, but that requires finding a solution to their Turner problem which won't be easily solved unless they take back equally bad or even worse long-term money (or give up an asset to move off him).
Warriors lucky to avoid Myles Turner headache Bucks are stuck with
There were likely one, two or even more occasions that the Warriors could have seriously pursued Turner, but they're fortunate that they and the Pacers didn't agree to a trade that would have assuredly delivered the two-time blocks champion a similar contract to what he got from the Bucks.
Golden State may have taken a gamble on the injury-prone Kristaps Porzingis, yet he's better than Turner when healthy and comes at a lower annual salary while only having a fully guaranteed deal for this season and not beyond.
Even if there's still long-term question marks on the Warriors' center rotation, Turner would have proven not to be the answer which leaves the front office and team fortunate they didn't up acquiring the 30-year-old.
