Following Myles Turner's departure earlier this month, the Indiana Pacers will be tasked with replacing their long-time big man this offseason. As it stands, it seems like they are going to rely on multiple big men to get the job done, but one major problem remains: none of them are starting-level centers.
The Pacers currently have three centers on the roster: Jay Huff, Tony Bradley, and James Wiseman, who the team recently brought back. Additionally, they extended a qualifying offer to Isaiah Jackson, meaning he will likely re-sign with the team as a restricted free agent. All these big men provide value in different areas, but none of them can be trusted to be Indiana's full-time starting center.
Next year is likely going to be a gap year for the Pacers, so they will have some more time to figure things out. However, their center situation is far from ideal, and there is a real shot that it will take a much longer time to get things sorted out.
The Pacers still have a lot of work to do at center
The offseason is still young, and a lot can happen the rest of the way. At this point, it seems that the most likely option for Indiana is to start Jackson at center. He has been with the team the longest, has gradually improved every year, and he is arguably the best fit. However, he is coming off an Achilles injury, so it is going to be difficult for the team to rely on him night in and night out. The same could also be said for Wiseman, who is also coming off an Achilles injury.
Indiana recently acquired Huff from the Memphis Grizzlies, and by all means, this was a good trade. Huff has a similar skillset to Turner (though not at the same level), and he had a bit of a breakout season last year. However, he has started just two games in his NBA career, and it is unknown whether he can perform as well as he does in an expanded role.
The Pacers' last center option is Bradley, who, despite looking solid at certain points in the playoffs, is not good enough to be a regular starter for the team. He helped the team a lot on the boards, and he deserves another season with the team. However, he is not likely to have a bigger role than he already does, even with the team's uncertainty at center. Furthermore, Bradley is on a non-guaranteed contract and is far from a lock to make the roster.
It was never a secret that things would be difficult for the Pacers if Turner left, but it is even worse than many expected. They do not have a single starting-level center on the roster, and they are relying too heavily on outcasts or players coming off brutal injuries. There is a world that exists where this pans out for the Pacers, especially since running a committee at center may be their best option. Even so, their current situation is not too inspiring, and they may be in for an ugly season next year.