Just before the start of free agency, the Indiana Pacers extended a qualifying offer to Isaiah Jackson, making him a restricted free agent. This was a bit of a shock as Jackson is coming off an Achilles injury and was already just a backup for the team. However, following Myles Turner's shocking departure to join the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers' decision is starting to make a lot more sense.
With Turner no longer on the roster, the Pacers have some major decisions they need to make regarding their center spot. One name to keep an eye on is Jackson, who is most likely going to return to the team in the offseason. While Jackson will not replace Turner and remains unlikely to take on a starting role next year, keeping him around will be huge for the Pacers as they look to navigate through the post-Turner era.
Bringing the Michigan native back into the fold is far from the Pacers' only solution, but it will help as he still provides a lot of value and is familiar with the system. Additionally, with Turner no longer in Indiana, Jackson could be in line for a huge opportunity next season as Indiana prepares for what is likely going to be a gap year.
The Pacers are in a tough spot following Myles Turner's exit
There were pros and cons to re-signing Turner for the Pacers. On one hand, he was a huge part of their success and a perfect fit in their system. However, on the flip side, he played horribly in the NBA Finals, and it would have been difficult for the team to bring him back just to pay the luxury tax during a season they are not going to compete.
Only time will tell if the Pacers made the right call or not by opting not to re-sign Turner. Regardless, one thing still holds true, and that is that they are in a tough situation.
The Pacers were never going to be able to find another big man who could replicate Turner's skillset (especially so soon). There are very few big men in the NBA who can stretch the floor and protect the rim as well as he can, and the Pacers are going to miss having him around. However, this is also a unique opportunity for Indiana to experiment a little bit and try out different solutions at center, which could include relying a little bit more on Jackson.
Jackson was always a solid big man in Indiana, and he possesses a lot of athleticism and energy, two traits that the Pacers look for in their players. It remains to be seen how he will perform once he makes his return to the court following his Achilles injury, but Jackson is still just 23 years old and can bounce back. Assuming he does return to Indiana this summer, he brings a lot of intrigue and could be in line for a breakout campaign.
For the rest of the way, it will be worth monitoring the Pacers' activity to see how they respond to Turner's departure. Furthermore, Jackson will be a player worth keeping an eye on as he still has a lot of value and might be a long-term option for the team if he sticks around past this summer.