The Indiana Pacers' point guard situation is getting out of control with injuries to Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell, leaving them with practically no point guard depth behind Andrew Nembhard. Fortunately for them, they have an answer: Quenton Jackson.
The Pacers' point guard problem was a prominent one even before preseason. Without Haliburton, Indiana lost a lot of its depth at the position. Furthermore, the team needed a third point guard behind Nembhard and McConnell anyway to take some of the pressure off of them. However, they are now down to just one reliable point guard option, and they need to make a decision soon with the start of the regular season looming.
So far, the Pacers have tried to find their solution by signing Monte Morris and Delon Wright. However, both players were waived due to injury.
Additionally, they recently signed veteran guard Cam Payne to a training camp deal. However, his preseason debut with the Pacers left a lot to be desired as he recorded zero points on 0-for-4 shooting, three assists, one rebound, and a block in 19 minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Indiana does not have a lot of options to solve its point guard dilemma. That does not mean the team is completely out of them, though, and they should look no further than Jackson.
Quenton Jackson should be the Pacers' backup point guard
Currently, the 27-year-old is on a two-way contract for the Pacers, but there are reasons to believe he should be on a standard deal instead.
Jackson showed flashes in Indiana last season, but perhaps more importantly, he has looked fantastic in preseason so far. In two games, he has averaged 8.5 points on 77.8% shooting from the field and 50% from deep, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in 10.8 minutes.
Furthermore, Jackson plays with great energy and can make an impact on both sides of the ball. He is also incredibly athletic, and his ability to play both guard positions makes his versatility in Indiana's system valuable.
The Pacers need to solve this dilemma soon
As it stands, the Pacers have two decisions to make. They can either rely on Payne (or an external option) to be their primary backup point guard until McConnell returns, or give that spot to Jackson and let him earn a standard contract.
Given that Indiana needs a backup point guard now more than ever, this is a very important decision it must make. Plus, the team is dealing with a lot of uncertainty this season, given the roster turnover and injuries they have dealt with. Because of this, relying on a player who already has experience with the team could pay immediate dividends.
The Pacers may want a guard with more experience who can make a bigger impact right away, but in a season that is all about experimentation for them, this would be the wrong way to look at it.
Indiana still has some time before its first regular season game of the season against the Thunder on Oct. 23. It's a small sample size, but Jackson has already proven he deserves the opportunity to be the team's backup point guard for now. Whether the Pacers will give it to him or not is a different story, however.