Granger-Turner trade benefits Pacers now, in future

For most of his nine years with the Indiana Pacers, small forward Danny Granger was the face of the franchise.

And in a fitting final act as a Pacer, Granger once again helped Indiana improve.

On Thursday, the Pacers traded Granger, 30, and a 2015 second-round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for versatile small forward Evan Turner and center Lavoy Allen.

"It's a day of mixed emotions," said a source close to Granger. "He's obviously excited for the next chapter of his career and showing the league how ready he is. But at the same time, this organization has been very important to him for years and he's made a ton of friends and so obviously saying bye to those close friends and teammates and others within the organization is going to be tough for he and his wife (Dionna)."

Only five players have spent more time with the Pacers.

The move to deal Granger, who has recently had to bounce back from major knee surgery, indicates that conference-leading Indiana is all-in for a championship. But the deal also gives the team some flexibility if it can't afford to re-sign Lance Stephenson.

In a statement released by the team, Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird said: "We thank Danny for his eight-and-a-half seasons with us and we appreciate everything he did for us in his time here. We felt we needed to make this trade to strengthen the core unit and our bench. In Evan and Lavoy, we think we got two really good players that can help us and we look forward to what they can bring."

Turner, the former No. 2 draft pick in the same class as Paul George and Stephenson, now joins a contender after averaging more than 17 points per game for the second-worst team in the league. The 6-9, 225-pound Allen, who is averaging 5.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, gives the Pacers another big body on the bench. Orlando Johnson was cut to keep the roster at the 15-man limit.

Turner believed the trade deadline had passed and, playing for the struggling 76ers (15-40), was making post-regular season vacation plans when he heard he had been traded.

"Definitely excited. Still shocked; I thought the trade deadline was over," Turner told The Star on Thursday night. "I was actually setting up my postseason (vacation) with my agent's assistant and pretty much when I was telling her the days I wanted to go. (Then) she said, 'Well, no we can't book (those days), you've just got traded.'

"Hopefully, I can play basketball while it's nice out. That's the best time to do it. I'm looking forward to the future and the next few months with the team."

Turner is reportedly earning $6.6 million this season. Unlike Stephenson, who will be an unrestricted free agent capable of signing a contract with any team this season, Turner would be a restricted free agent. If the Pacers make a qualifying offer of $8.7 million, they can match any contract Turner is offered.

Stephenson has blossomed in his fourth year — his contract year — averaging career highs in points (14.1), assists (5.3) and rebounds (7.1). Stephenson is also the top rebounding guard in the league and has the most triple-doubles (four) in the NBA this season. So if Stephenson becomes too expensive for the Pacers, the team could retain Turner by having the right to match competing offers.

Being in the last year of a $60 million contract, Granger began this season with the expectation that his run as a Pacer could be coming to an end.

"I've been it for a long time but I'm older now. I'm in the last year of my deal," Granger said in October. "We don't know what's going to happen next year so we're going to go forth this year."

Granger had worked his way back into the rotation after missing most of last season with a left knee injury. This year, as the Pacers started their quest for the top seed in the conference, Granger battled through a calf strain and did not play until Dec. 20. Granger returned to the unfamiliar role of coming off the bench and has averaged 8.3 points on just 37.1 percent shooting.

During training camp, Granger recalled a conversation from last season that he shared with Donnie Walsh, who worked as president of basketball operations during Bird's year off. Granger had heard trade rumors and so he went to Walsh to ask for a heads up if the team in fact planned to deal him. However, Granger felt comforted by Walsh's encouragement.

"(Walsh) said, 'No, I'm not trading you,' " Granger said.

Although this year, Granger felt that the team would clue him in if it was shopping him to another team, he also understood the Pacers' position and the possibility of being traded.

"You always want the support of the guys in charge. They're in charge and they've been behind me, supporting me the whole way," Granger said in October.

"I've been knowing what I could do. I know what I'm capable of, I know what I'm not capable of. Honestly, to trade me at this point, unless you would get someone back that would really, really, really (help) – we already have a young core group, so I don't know if they would trade me for more younger pieces that probably would play with this group."

EVAN TURNER'S STATISTICS

DANNY GRANGER'S STATISTICS