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Evan Turner: 'The mid-range is where the money's at'

John David Mercer / USA TODAY Sports

Evan Turner has seen his stock dip some since being drafted second overall in 2010. But he's still just 27, coming off a strong season as a reserve for the Boston Celtics, and entering unrestricted free agency in a summer that will see player salaries skyrocket in conjunction with an influx of league TV revenue.

What may suppress Turner's market value, though, is the fact that he's the rare wing in today's NBA who seeks the majority of his points not from behind the 3-point line or at the rim, but in the now-stigmatized mid-range. Turner's never averaged more than two 3-point attempts per game in any season, is a career 30.5 percent shooter from distance, and hit just 20 total threes (24.1 percent) last season.

But Turner scoffs at the notion that a perimeter player can't thrive without a 3-point shot, and sees the mid-range as both the past and future of the league.

"People say 'You can't shoot the three.' But I can defend, I can pass, rebound, score," he told Maurice Peebles of Complex Sports. "You got guys that all they can do is shoot and nothing else. Like, how ass-backwards is that?

"The future is in the mid-range. The mid-range is where the money's at, man. I think the 3-point shot opens up the court and everything like that, but MJ and all those great players made all of their money out of the mid-range. So I'm not sorry for that at all. Evan M. Turner. For sure, 'M' stands for mid-range. Anywhere within 15 feet is cash. I'll try to get better at threes, but that's my game."

Turner averaged 10.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and one steal in 81 games for the Celtics this season. He also posted a career-best 51.3 true shooting percentage, so regardless of his long-range aversion, he's evolving into a more efficient scorer.

New York Knicks president Phil Jackson, despite wanting to adapt the triangle offense with an increased focus on the 3-pointer, is expected to be one of Turner's suitors this summer.

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