Quenton Jackson is one of the few developmental success stories the Indiana Pacers have had in recent years. One could argue that since Myles Turner was drafted in 2015, the Pacers have had only one of their draft picks turn into a real NBA player. While Andrew Nembhard deserves credit, it's fun to see that Indiana is making the most of finding abandoned and undervalued young players.
Between Jackson and Jalen Slawson, the Pacers are targeting two-way wings with abilities to play a variety of roles. Both Jackson and Slawson were brought in after they were cut by multiple teams and left to rot in the G-League.
However, during a gap-year season that saw the Pacers roster decimated by injury until the season mercifully ended their 19-win campaign, it was Jackson who was perhaps the only real bright spot.
Nembhard failed to take a leap. Pascal Siakam missed time. Aaron Nesmith played in just over half of the team's games. Even the Ivica Zubac trade, an absolute steal that continues to be validated, yielded only five games of showcased talent.
Now, with opportunities in the rotation all but dried up, it seems hard to expect Q-Jax to get an opportunity after his stint last year gave him so much. However, while he may start on the deep depths of the bench, his path to real playing time is not as hard as it might seem.
Third string guards play often
Backup centers are around for situational use. Look no further than Jay Huff, who is, by all accounts, a very serviceable second-string center and is not expected to play any part in the rotation beyond short two- to three-minute spurts between Zubac's minutes and the bursts of lineups that will feature Pascal Siakam as a small-ball five.
Backup guards, by comparison, are used constantly. Think of the prime Golden State Warriors dynasty that already had superfluous playmaking and still rolled out both Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa. Last year's champion New York Knicks excelled with all of Jalen Brunson, Jose Alvarado, and Landry Shamet playing decent minutes in the Finals.
Skilled players play. The value they bring with simply adequate play is worth more than the simple numbers of size.
That is the niche that Jackson could find this season.
The Pacers already have their rotation of guards with Tyrese Haliburton and TJ McConnell making up the majority of point guard minutes, with Andrew Nembhard likely claiming the starting two spot. The good news for Jackson is how he can work with any of those guys.
With Haliburton, he must emulate the flanking play of Aaron Nesmith. When sharing the floor with McConnell, he can harass ball handlers by working through screens and passing guards off to the diminutive firebrand. Alongside Nembhard, he must attack the rim on drive and kick situations.
The answer for Jackson is not in an individual strength but in his ability to make himself into what his teammates need of him.
Most importantly, if injuries hit again, his fit with the rest of the rotation makes him an easy band-aid fix.
In a team that has better talent, it is that versatility that makes Jackson so valuable. And after a year of playing with random talent that showcased exactly that, the reason why the Pacers handed him a standard deal is clear.
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