Evan Turner’s Thoughts on NBA Trades and the Trail Blazers

The NBA Trade Deadline is no fun for many of the league’s 450 players, as they wait to find out if their lives and careers will get overturned by forces beyond their control. Portland Trail Blazers guard Evan Turner stands among those 450, valued for his talent but not quite fitting in with his current team, subject to rumor and fate. James Blancarte at Basketball Insiders recently interviewed Turner about trades and the state of the Trail Blazers. Here are some of Turner’s thoughts.

On the mental/emotional strain of trades and trade rumors:

You come from a situation where you always had control to a certain extent whether you leave or not,” Turner said. “So, as you get older you comprehend it’s more of a business. You also comprehend that everything in life is not really worth discussing until it presents itself, you know, legitimately.

On losing close games:

A lot of teams we lost to did a great job. Certain games we’re going to look back on. We probably gave certain games away. You have to finish it off and learn from those past errors,” Turner stated. “We just have to figure out how to close out games.

On goals for the Blazers:

I think we have to focus and keep growing. You want to finish top four.

Turner shares much more in the interview, including how he deals with trade talk, his own trade history, and playing in the Western Conference.