After a recent stretch of poor performances (which culminated in him taking a backseat to Micah Potter in the starting lineup), Jay Huff bounced back in a big way against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It's not going to be enough for the Indiana Pacers to suddenly trust him to be their starting center moving forward, but it's at least a positive sign.
During the Pacers' loss to the Cavaliers on Tuesday, Huff recorded 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and one block while shooting 7-for-10 from the field and 4-for-7 from deep.
This was the Virginia alum's highest-scoring game since he dropped 20 on the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 19. Additionally, his 57.1% shooting from beyond the arc was his third-best this season.
Where do the Pacers go with Jay Huff from here?
One good game isn't going to negate the last few weeks of poor play from Huff, but the Pacers should still be happy with what they saw regardless, particularly on offense.
Indiana has likely figured out that, while he might be an asset for them past this season, Huff cannot be trusted to be their full-time starting center. He still has a lot of flaws and is not someone who can elevate his game and raise the Pacers' ceiling.
When Huff is on, he can be very effective. He can be an incredible spacer and has already shown that he can be an elite rim protector, averaging 2.2 blocks per game. But he is also very inconsistent and is still too slow to be a truly good fit in Indiana on either side of the ball.
Still, while he's not likely to be the Pacers' starting center moving forward (especially if the latest rumors are true), he can still be a valuable contributor next season when they aim to re-enter the title picture.
Huff's ceiling may be as a backup big man, but this is also a role he could thrive in. He might not win many games for the Pacers, but he's not going to lose any for them either.
The North Carolina native is a smart player who has figured out how to buy into Indiana's system. He's not a perfect fit, but if his role is just to hit some threes and block shots, keeping him around might be a smart move for the team.
If they want to become serious title contenders again, the Pacers will have to make a trade for a new starting center. And it may have to happen this season. Still, this doesn't mean there's not a world where Huff can stick around and display his value. It might just have to be in a smaller role.