Entering his fourth season with the team, big man Isaiah Jackson is primed for a career year with the Indiana Pacers. Following the departure of Jalen Smith, who signed with the Chicago Bulls this offseason, Jackson is now expected to assume a larger role in the rotation, possibly being the team's primary backup center behind Myles Turner.
A lot of eyes will be on the 22-year-old this season as he aims to become a consistent contributor on the court. Furthermore, following recent developments, Jackson now has potentially even more to play for.
Pacers did not sign Isaiah Jackson to a rookie-scale contract extension
Yesterday, October 21, was the deadline for NBA teams to sign their players who were on a rookie contract from the 2021 class to an extension. Many players around the league received new deals, such as Trey Murphy III, Jalen Johnson, and Moses Moody. However, Jackson, the only Pacer eligible for this deal, enters the season without a new contract.
The Michigan native is now technically entering a contract year. However, it is expected that the Pacers will give him a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent next year. From there, especially depending on how he performs this season, the Pacers will likely sign Jackson to a new contract in 2025.
He may not have a new contract yet, but at this point, there is no real reason to believe Jackson will not be a part of the Pacers roster past the 2024-25 season, which could become the best of his career.
There are a lot of reasons to feel excited about Jackson's potential this season. He has already spoken about improving his offensive game, specifically his jumpshot, and gaining confidence. Additionally, he has already established himself as a high-energy player with fantastic athleticism.
Jackson has played well for the Pacers during his NBA career so far and is only getting better. He is no threat to take over Turner's starting spot, but he is a useful player nonetheless who provides a lot of value on the court.
Last season, he averaged 6.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block in 13.1 minutes per game. Furthermore, he played in all but two games for the Pacers in the playoffs, including every game during their Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the eventual champion Boston Celtics.
The Pacers begin their season tomorrow on the road against the Detroit Pistons. This will be a good time for Jackson to showcase his newfound confidence and make an impact on the team right away.