If Turner is so good, why aren't contenders lining up to get him? Why didn't Golden State trade the 2nd overall pick James Wiseman with salary for him? Why didn't the Rockets target him instead of Christian Wood? Why didn't the Clippers trade for him instead of targeting Ibaka with the MLE? Why don't the Blazers trade for him? Why wouldn't the Bucks try to flip Lopez and Divencenzo for him? Why wouldn't the Heat flip Olynyk and Dunn (or Herro, or Robinson) for him? Why wouldn't the Raptors make a trade for him to replace the void left by Ibaka and Gasol?
I was almost talking myself into Turner before this news hit, but now that the trade hasn't happened, I've been asking, "If Turner is so good, why aren't elite teams going after him?"
Either the Pacers have made him unavailable or many teams don't think he's that good. Turner has been one of the most obviously available players in the league for at least a year. The Pacers have obviously had a mismatched lineup for several years now and Sabonis is now an all-star. It seems unlikely they wouldn't be trying to move him for something.
That leaves the possibility that contending teams in the NBA just don't think he's that good. They don't look at him and say, "He's a good player but he doesn't fit well on that roster. If we got him, his game would blossom." They probably see him as a decent role player, but whose salary and price tag are not worth a big trade for. They look at him and think, "We can replace most of what he offers for a lot less money."
I think the Pacers will feel the need to move him this off-season for a guard or wing. Some middling team (ironically, maybe the Hornets) will make a move for him dreaming about his stretch/rim protection, but he will disappoint. They'll trade some some salary with a low-level rotation wing/guard and a "media" first round pick (the kind that the Pacers can report is a first round pick, but with protections that will make sure it never is a first rounder). Everyone will say, "See. See! Turner was worth what the Pacers were wanting from Ainge."
Meanwhile, Tristan Thompson will be contributing to actual playoff wins for the Cs and Ainge will get another rotation player with the trade exception.
Here are my ideas:
Hornets for Rozier and a protected 1st
Wizards for Bryant, Troy Brown Jr., and a protected 1st
Knicks for Randle, Frankie, and a protected 1st
Kings for Barnes and a protected 1st
Spurs for DeRozan and a protected 1st