Turner: 'I'm going to get money regardless'
The Sixers have until Thursday to sign Evan Turner to a contract extension, but the 6-foot-7 swingman is not concerned.
Evan Turner is heading into the final year of his rookie contract with the 76ers.
The Sixers have until Thursday to sign him to a contract extension. That appears to be highly unlikely.
But the 6-foot-7 swingman is not concerned.
"I'm going to get money regardless," he said after Friday's practice at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic medicine. "I'm not really going to worry about that.
"I just want to take it day by day and keep becoming a better player."
Turner expected to be traded this summer. And there's a thought that the Sixers could try to trade him during the season.
But so far, he along with forward Thaddeus Young and center Spencer Hawes have been the team leaders. That's a role Turner cherishes even though there's uncertainty surrounding his future in Philadelphia.
"I just take it one day at a time," he said. "Like I said, I'll be somewhere next year. All that other stuff doesn't really bother me.
"When you have teammates, you try to work with them and help them out. And that's it."
Turner averaged a team-leading 17.3 points to go with 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.67 turnovers this preseason. Turner averaged a career-best 13.3 points last season and was the only Sixer to start all 82 games.
Assuming he's not resigned by the Sixers, one would think his market value will depend on the numbers Turner produces this season. He disagrees.
"I don't think numbers predict it in general," Turner said. "You see the contracts that were passed out and it's like what are numbers? Are they good numbers? Or are they bad numbers? People are passing out like crazy contracts. And it's like what are you doing?"
Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie was asked Friday morning if there was chance that Turner wouldn't be back next season.
He said all of the Sixers are being evaluated every day.
"We got a few decisions to make between now and the end of the month," Hinkie said. "But nothing we are ready to announce."
Follow and contact Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers