He may not be their starting center of the future, but Jay Huff still provides a lot of value to the Indiana Pacers. And that was well on display on Sunday as he made his presence felt by protecting the rim and hitting some shots at a high level.
During the loss to his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, Huff recorded 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting (including 2-for-3 from deep) and three blocks in 28 minutes. He also grabbed four rebounds.
Huff's first season in Indiana has been a bit of a roller coaster. He began the season incredibly slow before breaking out in late November, and it's been a bit of everything in between since. However, with Ivica Zubac now on the roster, the Virginia alum can fully embrace a backup role, which is far and away his best chance at long-term success in Indiana. And given how important depth is to the Pacers' success, Huff will likely be a legitimate contributor for years to come.
Jay Huff can play an important role with the Pacers
Huff is solid, and Indiana was right to take a chance on him when it acquired him to help replace Myles Turner last summer. But he proved that he is not a long-term starter on a championship-level team. He is not consistent enough to be trusted under the bright lights, and he doesn't have a high enough ceiling.
Regardless, the North Carolina native excels at two things: blocking shots and hitting threes. And as a backup, he should have plenty of opportunities to put these skills on full display without having too much on his plate.
There is a lot to like about Huff. He plays smart basketball and knows how to play his role well. Huff never forces anything and just lets the game come to him, but he can also make a solid impact on both sides of the ball. Plus, he complements everybody on the team on the court, and he should only continue to get better once he finally teams up with Tyrese Haliburton.
It's also pretty clear that the team likes him and wants to see him succeed.
As the Pacers look to re-enter the title picture next season and remind the basketball world how dominant they can be, Huff will be a player to monitor as he looks to continue making a name for himself with the team.