INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indiana Pacers granted Myles Turner's wish.
The Pacers selected the Texas big man with the 11th overall pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night and he needed time to compose himself at the draft site in New York before giving Commissioner Adam Silver a big hug on stage.
"He expressed a strong desire to be with this team," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "He loves what we've done the last few years and loves the city here and just believes in our culture and the way we do things. He was hoping to end up here."
The Pacers, who want to go with a faster, smaller lineup next season, are looking for their draft picks to make an impact right away and potentially fill a starting role down the road -- even if that means selecting a player only a year removed from high school, Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard said this week.
"Words just can't describe how excited and elated I am right now," Turner said after being selected. "I wasn't supposed to be here. I'm happy to be part of the Indiana organization now, and I'm going to give it my all. I'm going to give everything to the city of Indianapolis and just the organization itself."
The Pacers must prepare for the possibility that two frontcourt veterans, center Roy Hibbert and forward David West, decide to opt out of the final year of their contracts and join free agency next month.
Turner, at 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds, could be a fit. He averaged 10.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks as a freshman last season.
"He's a two-way player," Vogel said. "That's another thing that we've sort of built this team around -- guys that can play both ends of the floor. He has the ability to be an elite shot-blocker and rim protector right away."
Those are two things Indiana has relied on Hibbert to handle on the court and, at times, handled very well.
Indiana's No. 11 pick was the team's highest pick since taking Paul George No. 10 overall in 2010. The Pacers also held the 43rd overall pick late Thursday.
Indiana may have to fill the roles of key bench players. Guards C.J. Watson and Rodney Stuckey, and forward Luis Scola are all unrestricted free agents. All three have been known to create a spark off the bench for the Pacers.
Pacers management understands how important this year's draft is for the team's future.
Pritchard said the depth of talent in the first part of the draft is significantly strong. Instead of targeting a specific position, Indiana simply wanted the best player available to help the Pacers as early as next season.
Turner joins a Pacers team with a two-time All-Star in George, who missed most of last season after breaking his right leg and veteran point guard George Hill, who also missed stretches last season with injuries.
Indiana hasn't found much success with the draft in recent years, but still found ways to reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. The Pacers finished 38-44 last year and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
The Pacers have been strapped for cash, too, and unable to make many significant moves. If Hibbert and West opt out of their contracts, Indiana's salary cap space -- and free agency options, too -- would open up even more. And the door would be open for turner to step in right away.
"I'm comfortable with it," Turner said. "I feel like those are two big names in the NBA. This season might not have gone the way it was supposed to for them, but they're still two very capable players."
