When the Indiana Pacers made a deal to acquire Evan Turner at the NBA’s trade deadline last season, many thought the trade could be a difference maker in the Eastern Conference.
Turner, a 25-year-old small forward, didn’t exactly light the world on fire with Indiana, averaging just 7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in 27 games.
Still, Pacers president Larry Bird thinks that Turner could be a very valuable player “in the right environment,” Turner’s agent, David Falk, told the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn Sunday.
According to Falk, Bird thinks Turner could average 17 points, six rebounds and five assists per game.
“If you would have told me you could sign a free agent that could average 17, 6, and 5 who was a wing player, I’d probably tell you you’re talking about a max player,” Falk said, via the Boston Globe. “I’m not giving you my opinion because I’m a little bit biased because of how I feel about Evan but Larry Bird is a pretty astute observer of NBA basketball, pretty tough critic, and he has said publicly that’s who he thinks Evan Turner is. He’s always been a big Evan Turner fan and it’s unfortunate the situation didn’t work out in Indiana.”
Falk also said that he thinks Boston could be the right situation for Turner, who was averaging a career-high 17.4 points per game with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013-14 before being dealt to the Pacers.
Playing for Celtics coach Brad Stevens might support that argument, too.
“I believe that Brad Stevens thinks that Evan has the ability,” Falk said. “He’s got the skill set and a very high basketball IQ to be a very good player.”
Falk went on to say that Stevens has a chance to make Turner a “great bargain” and an “important contributor” for the Celtics in the 2014-15 season.
Photo via Twitter/@GaryDzen
