Jay Huff has started 26 of his 47 games during his first season with the Indiana Pacers, including every game in December. However, the Virginia alum has not only come off the bench in the Pacers' last two games, but he has a total of six minutes in those games.
In his first 11 games of the month (which includes eight starts), Huff averaged 11.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 21.5 minutes while shooting 62.5% from the field and 39.5% from deep. While these aren't jaw-dropping numbers, they are more than solid, especially on this version of the Pacers.
To be fair, that could be the problem entirely. Maybe Huff is playing too well and is providing too much value for the Pacers, who have a real chance of securing a top pick in this year's draft. Or, since this season is all about experimentation for Indiana, this could just be the team's way of giving other lineups and players their time to shine.
Regardless, the Pacers' decision to reduce Huff to this (most likely temporary) role is a head-scratching one. However, it could signal what his future with the team might look like.
The Pacers have a Jay Huff decision to make
The Pacers traded for Huff in the offseason as a way to replace Myles Turner, who joined the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency. Both big men have a lot of similarities in their playstyles, and there were reasons to be optimistic about Huff's arrival and what type of impact he could make in Indiana's system.
It's been up and down for Huff so far, but the pros seem to outweigh the cons. He can be very inconsistent (particularly with shooting from beyond the arc), and he might be too slow to ever truly be a good fit for the Pacers, especially once they get Tyrese Haliburton back.
However, the North Carolina native has gradually improved on both sides of the ball and has proven he can be a knockdown three-point shooter and an elite rim protector (he led the league in blocks per game for a good portion of the season).
There is a lot to like about Huff, and he will likely be a long-term contributor in Indiana. But can he be trusted as the team's full-time starting center? Probably not.
Huff provides value and is very talented, but he isn't someone who can elevate his game. Additionally, he doesn't raise the Pacers' ceiling, which could be concerning as they look to re-establish themselves as title contenders as soon as next season.
Ahead of next week's trade deadline, the Pacers could be a team to keep an eye on in the trade market as they may be interested in upgrading at center. Regardless of whether it happens or not this season, it's highly likely that Huff will eventually take a backseat in Indiana. And fans are getting a glimpse of what that looks like right now.