Indiana Pacers fans already have plenty of reasons to be excited about Jay Huff's arrival after the team acquired him in the offseason, but sooner rather than later, it will become painfully clear that this trade was a perfect match for both sides.
After Myles Turner's departure in free agency, Indiana desperately needed to address their center needs. It is not a flashy move, but trading for Huff may ultimately prove to be the best one they could have made. Not only is he a fantastic option to replace the Texas native on paper, but he also needed a bigger role and more opportunities to prove that he can be a legitimate contributor in the NBA.
This season, Huff will be a key player to monitor in Indiana. There is a lot to like about him, and this is a trade that should work out perfectly for both sides.
The Pacers needed to replace Myles Turner in the offseason
Heading into the offseason, it looked like Turner was going to re-sign with the Pacers after their latest NBA Finals run. However, this didn't happen, and he joined their division rivals instead.
Losing the 29-year-old is not the end of the world for the Pacers. He had already shown signs of regression, and he played poorly during the finals, averaging 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 37.7% from the field and 21.4% from beyond the arc. Plus, signing him to a new contract likely would have pushed Indiana into the luxury tax, which has not happened in about two decades.
Still, there is a reason that Turner was considered such an important player for the Pacers in recent years. He was able to stretch the floor, protect the rim, and run the length of the court at such a high level. Turner was a perfect fit in Indiana's system, largely because of his spacing and ability to push the tempo.
With Turner no longer on the roster, the Pacers lost some of their dynamic on both sides of the ball. Fortunately for them, Huff might be the perfect player to fill his shoes.
Jay Huff has a career-defining opportunity in Indiana
Prior to the trade, Huff had played for four teams in as many seasons but never got a consistent opportunity until last year. During his only season in Memphis, the Virginia alum averaged 6.9 points and 2 rebounds while shooting 51.5% from the field and 40.5% from behind the line in 64 games.
Though he played well, his ceiling with the Grizzlies was still low because he was playing behind players like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey. He needed an opportunity to break out and show that he can contribute at a high level, and the Pacers are the perfect team to do that with.
Huff's biggest appeal in Indiana is that his game very closely resembles Turner's. It remains to be seen if he can replicate his impact in an expanded role, but their skillsets are very close.
Like Turner, Huff can also stretch the floor and protect the rim. He was incredibly efficient as a three-point shooter, even taking 3.1 attempts per game in just 11.7 minutes. Additionally, though it is a small sample size, his 47.9 rim frequency across the past two seasons places him in the 98th percentile across the league, according to CraftedNBA.
This trade has the makings to be perfect for Huff and the Pacers. He gets his opportunity that he needs to break out, and he should be able to excel in Rick Carlisle's system. The North Carolina native has already left an impression on his teammates as well, which should only bode well for his run with the team.
The upcoming season will be an important one for the Pacers as they experiment with their roster a bit, but Huff remains one of the most intriguing ones as he looks to find his footing in Indiana. And soon enough, he may establish himself as the perfect Turner replacement.