For a decade, Myles Turner was the Pacers’ cornerstone — a steady presence through resets, playoff pushes, and constant trade speculation. So when assistant coach Jenny Boucek posted a quiet, heartfelt goodbye to the now-former Indiana center, it hit differently.

A few hours ago, Indiana Pacers assistant coach Jenny Boucek took to her official Instagram account to share a story with her 14,500+ followers. She showcased the official post from the Indiana Pacers bidding farewell to Myles Turner on her story. Boucek also added a caption that read “This never gets easier…. 😔Thank you, Myles. I’m so inspired by you on and off the court. You are a champion.” 

It was a rare public expression from Boucek, one of only four female assistants in the league, and someone who had quietly built a reputation as a key figure in Rick Carlisle’s staff since joining the franchise in 2021. If Jenny Boucek and Myles Turner shared a close bond, it wasn’t something they chose to highlight publicly.

However, the 2x NBA Blocks Leader often gave his flowers to the assistant coach. Back in March 2024, Turner discussed Boucek by saying, “Just intense passion, man. Jenny, ever since I’ve known her, everything she does is with a lot of passion, a lot of care. She has a humane side to what she does, but she also has a switch that she can flip as well. I just respect her being in a male-dominated industry, being able to have opinions that actually help, that are facts, and actually grow our game and whatnot. I think that she makes the game a little bit easier for guys who are coming in, especially younger guys. So, she definitely serves a role and shows a purpose.”

And while Boucek’s tribute reflected admiration and appreciation, not everyone within the Pacers organization reacted to Turner’s exit with the same warmth.

The message stood in stark contrast to what came from Indiana’s front office just hours later: disappointment, shock, and a sharp suggestion that Turner’s exit wasn’t handled in good faith. After the deal with Milwaukee became public, Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard voiced clear frustration at how the situation unfolded.

Kevin Pritchard was ‘shocked’ at Myles Turner’s trade: “I saw Shams tweet it”

Throughout Turner’s 10 years with the Indiana Pacers, he was frequently the subject of trade rumors. Ironically, those talks reportedly subsided a bit this year, even as his contract was coming to an end. By entering free agency, Turner would have hoped for a substantial raise on the 2-year (s), $40.9 million contract he held. That is what the Indiana Pacers front office was expecting, which is why the sudden shift to the Milwaukee Bucks left many confused.

“We did not see Milwaukee as that team. We would have been open on a sign-and-trade because it’s sort of mutually beneficial, but we didn’t get to that point, unfortunately,” said Pritchard. “I saw Shams tweet it, and that’s how I knew that Myles was taken away.”

Pritchard hadn’t gone into specifics in terms of the contract offers. However, IndyStar’s Gregg Doyel had reported earlier that the Pacers’ best offer was around four years, $95 million. Several issues, including Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles Injury, and going more above the salary tax cap, reportedly prevented the team from going further. Despite that, negotiations were still going on.

“We were negotiating in good faith. But what happens in this league is sometimes, you’re negotiating, but because a guy is unrestricted, he has the right to say, ‘That’s the offer I want, I’m going to take it, and that’s best for my family.’,” Pritchard added.

Whether the Pacers expected loyalty or simply misread Turner’s intentions, the outcome is the same: for the first time in his career, Myles Turner will suit up for a different NBA team. But while the front office may still be processing how things ended, Boucek’s message reminded everyone what Turner meant to the team beyond his contract. In a league where relationships often get overshadowed by salary caps and sign-and-trades, a few honest words can cut deeper than any press conference.

And sometimes, a goodbye from a coach means more than any front-office statement ever could.