After Myles Turner signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Indiana Pacers are expected to run a center-by-committee with Isaiah Jackson likely leading the way, assuming he re-signs as a restricted free agent. However, while Jackson knows Indiana's system and has played well for the team in the past, he is coming off an Achilles injury and might not be much of a solution to their center problems.
Jackson appeared in five games last season before suffering an Achilles injury. In those games, he averaged 7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1.6 blocks in 16.8 minutes. It is a small sample size, but the Michigan natiive looked solid for the team last season as he was preparing for his biggest role yet.
There is a lot to like about Jackson, especially as he is only 23 years old and has had big moments with the team. However, he has only started 31 games throughout his NBA career and has never had much of an expanded role. Putting so much faith in him could backfire for the Pacers as they try to navigate this post-Turner era.
The Pacers have a lot of uncertainty at center
As it stands, it looks like the Pacers will rely on multiple options to replace their long-time big man. In addition to Jackson, this includes James Wiseman, Jay Huff, and Tony Bradley. It seems unlikely the team will roll into the season with all four on the roster, so training camp and the preseason will be a big opportunity for all of them to fight for a spot.
In theory, Jackson is probably the most intriguing option. He is young, athletic, and a good fit on the court. However, it also remains to be seen how he will bounce back from an Achilles injury. The same can also be said for Wiseman, who suffered the same injury in his first game with the Pacers.
This was always going to be the case, but it is looking like an incredibly difficult task for Indiana to find a legitimate replacement for Turner. There are few big men in the league who can stretch the floor and protect the rim as well as he can. He was the perfect fit for the team, especially alongside Pascal Siakam in the frontcourt. There is no denying that Turner left a lot to be desired in the NBA Finals. Even so, he was crucial to their recent success, and replacing him was always going to be challenging.
The Pacers are in for what most expect to be a gap year next season. Because of this, they will have a good opportunity to experiment a bit and try different things out. This is why, if there was ever a good time for Turner to leave, it was this offseason. The Pacers can now throw a couple of players out there to see who sticks and who can establish themselves as a long-term fit for the team.
Jackson provides a lot of intrigue and will almost certainly be in line for the biggest role of his career so far next year. However, there is a serious chance this backfires for Indiana, which could set them back in a major way.