Evan Turner Open To Taking 'Hometown Discount' To Stay With Celtics

The Boston Celtics have some important decisions to make this summer, but apparently Evan Turner is willing to make one of those seasons a bit easier.

Turner will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and likely will draw interest from several NBA teams after a solid 2015-16 campaign. That interest could drive up his price tag, but the 27-year-old swingman suggested to CSN New England on Sunday that he’d be willing to take a “hometown discount.”

“Of course (I would),” Turner said, via CSNNE.com. “I joke with people, this is the first time I left an exit interview and the team wanted me back. I don’t take that lightly, you know what I’m saying? At the end of the day, I’m grateful for that.”

Turner found his niche this season as a key contributor on Boston’s second unit, averaging 10.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game and finishing fifth in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year voting. Head coach Brad Stevens has spoken very highly of Turner, and the former second overall pick in 2010 has expressed his love for the Celtics on several occasions this season.

Yet keeping Turner in Boston could be a challenge for Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. The team has the potential to make a major splash this offseason through the draft, free agency and potential trades, and acquiring top-flight talent would use up Boston’s cap space. If the Celtics go that route, they’ll have very little room left to sign Turner, who should receive much better offers on the open market.

It appears the seven-year NBA veteran is remaining both optimistic and realistic.

“Hopefully we can figure out a way to make it work,” Turner added. “It’s a lot going on with the team, with the roster and with the draft picks and things like that. There’s definitely admiration on both sides. I trust Danny will do what’s best for the organization.”