After a decade in the blue and gold, longtime Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner left in the offseason and signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Many anticipated that Turner's departure would only spell bad news for Indiana, and it's easy to see why. Though his tenure with the team ended poorly (he averaged 11.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 2 turnovers per game while shooting 26% from deep in the conference finals and NBA Finals), Turner was still an important part of the Pacers' success due to his ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim.
The Texas native is far from the best center in the NBA, but he was a fantastic fit in Indiana, and the team was always expected to struggle with replacing him. However, over a month into the new season, things are beginning to look up for the Pacers, and they may end up not missing their old friend whatsoever when all is said and done.
The Pacers are finally getting good center play
In an effort to replace Turner, head coach Rick Carlisle and the Pacers opted to run a center-by-committee. Right now, their two standouts are Isaiah Jackson and Jay Huff, who are each coming into their own in their increased role.
It was slow-moving for Huff, who the Pacers acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies following Turner's departure, to begin the season. But he has figured it out and now looks like a real asset.
In his last seven games, he is averaging 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 3.3 blocks while shooting 50.8% from the field and 41.5% from beyond the arc. Additionally, he is leading the entire league with 2.3 blocks per game.
The North Carolina native is also beginning to look fantastic defensively, even beyond being able to block shots. He is looking increasingly more comfortable as a defensive anchor for the Pacers, calling out switches and rotations while also being mobile enough to guard outside the paint. Huff also doesn't look as lost defensively, which is obviously a great sign for his development as well.
As for Jackson, the jury is still out on whether he can be a long-time starting center for Indiana. But as it stands, he's proving that he can play a legitimate role past this season despite being fresh off an Achilles injury.
The Michigan native still looks incredibly athletic and plays with a lot of heart and energy. In his first 21 games this season, Jackson averaged 8.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1 assist while shooting 60.6% from the field and playing solid defense.
Is Turner still the best of the three big men? Probably, but on a four-year, $108.9 million contract (which includes a $29.1 million player option in 2028-29), it wouldn't have ever been worth it for Indiana to keep him around.
The Pacers might have missed Turner to begin the season, but it looks like things are turning around. It remains to be seen whether their center situation can flourish when the pressure is on and they are in the hunt for an NBA championship again, but for now, the Pacers' future is looking bright.
Even without Turner on the roster.