Jay Huff's preseason debut proved what Pacers already knew about him

If Jay Huff's preseason debut was any indication of what's about to come, then the Indiana Pacers were right to trade for him and believe that he can help replace former long-time center Myles Turner.

After Indiana acquired Huff from the Memphis Grizzlies, many fans were excited about his potential fit with the team. Like Turner, the Virginia alum can stretch the floor, protect the rim, and run the length of the court. He has yet to do it in an expanded role, but there are reasons to believe he will be a fantastic fit with the Pacers, and his preseason debut further proved that.

In Indiana's victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Huff recorded six points on 3-for-4 shooting, three rebounds, two blocks, and an assist in 18 minutes. The North Carolina native made an impact on both ends of the court, which is what many anticipated he would do.

It is just the preseason, but Huff looked good during his first game as a Pacer, and he just proved he should be a valuable contributor this season.

Jay Huff can be the next Myles Turner for the Pacers, in theory

The Pacers brought Huff in for one obvious reason: his game very closely resembles Turner's, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent.

Given that Indiana's center situation for the long term is murky, it made sense for the team to look for a big man who can replicate Turner's style of play to at least make the transition as seamless as possible. There were very few options for the Pacers (especially if they were looking for a center who could immediately match his impact as well), but Huff was as good as it was going to get for the team.

Last season, the North Carolina native shot 40.5% from beyond the arc on 3.1 attempts in just 11.7 minutes per game. It was a pretty small sample size, but Huff made it clear that he can stretch the floor like Turner can and is incredibly efficient. With more volume, Huff should become a legitimate threat from the outside.

Additionally, Huff's 47.9 rim frequency across the past two seasons places him in the 98th percentile across the league, according to CraftedNBA. This means that he is a legitimate paint presence and can protect the rim at an elite level, and he is more than just a center who can shoot threes.

This season will be all about experimentation for the Pacers as they look to navigate through life without Turner and Tyrese Haliburton, who will be on the shelf for the entire year due to an Achilles injury. Because of this, many players on the team will have good opportunities to step up and prove their worth in Indiana. This will be especially true for Huff, who can make an immediate impact if he can play the way the Pacers know he can.

As the Pacers look to find their Turner replacement, Huff will be the guy to keep an eye on. They acquired him to fulfill that role, and very early on, it looks like they were right to do so.