The Indiana Pacers have a lot to wish for this Christmas, but perhaps at the top of the list is their hope to find their center of the future sooner rather than later.
The Pacers need a new long-term starting center
Following Myles Turner's offseason departure after 10 seasons with the team, the Pacers were forced to go to Plan B in hopes of replacing him, and it's been a bit of a challenge.
Turner is far from a perfect center, and that was especially evident in the 2025 NBA Finals, when he averaged 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 2 turnovers while shooting 37.7% from the field and 21.4% from beyond the arc. Still, he was an incredible fit in the Pacers' system due to his ability to space the floor and protect the rim at a high level.
Instead of committing to a one-for-one replacement, the Pacers opted to run a center-by-committee and just hope for one player to stand out above the rest. This has mostly happened as Jay Huff, who Indiana acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in the offseason, has taken over as the team's starting center and is showcasing his value on both sides of the ball.
However, Huff is solid, but there aren't many reasons to believe he can be their full-time starting center moving forward. He is a bit inconsistent, is still too slow to really work in Indiana's system, and is not somebody who can elevate his game, especially against some of the best centers in the league.
Plus, Isaiah Jackson struggled to step up despite being the Pacers' starting center on opening night, and he may ultimately be more of a trade candidate anyway.
The Pacers probably don't have their guy currently on the roster. And if they want to raise their ceiling and make another NBA Finals run, they're probably going to need an upgrade at center. The problem is, though, that upgrade may not be attainable. At least not this season.
Indiana has been linked to a few different centers in a potential trade, most notably Ivica Zubac, Daniel Gafford, and Walker Kessler. However, trading for any of these big men would most likely require trading Bennedict Mathurin, which would be a massive risk. Plus, outside of Zubac (who probably isn't a realistic trade candidate anyway), there aren't a lot of potential center options worth trading real assets for this season.
The Pacers have some decisions to make, and they will be a team to monitor ahead of the trade deadline. They should absolutely gauge the trade market and see who's available. But actually pulling the trigger on a deal is a completely different story.
If they can get a clear-cut upgrade over Huff (who is leading the NBA with 2.5 blocks per game), then trading for a new center would likely be worth it, even if it means giving up a guy like Mathurin and some picks. But if not, then the Pacers may be better off standing pat this season, giving Huff the rest of the season to prove his worth, and try again in the summer.
Regardless, the Pacers need to find their next center of the future, no matter where it may come from.