According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Indiana Pacers have signed big man Isaiah Jackson to a three-year, $21 million deal. Prior to this deal, the Pacers extended a qualifying offer to Jackson, making him a restricted free agent. However, the two sides were able to work out a deal to bring the 23-year-old back.
This signing does not come as much of a shock, especially following Myles Turner's departure after signing with the Milwaukee Bucks. Jackson has spent the first four seasons os his NBA career in Indiana and is familiar with the system. As it stands, there are reasons to believe he will be the team's next starting center.
On paper, this is a great move for Indiana. Jackson has looked solid throughout his tenure with the team so far. Now that he is in line for a bigger opportunity, it will be exciting to see how he can grow. However, there are some downsides to be aware of, even if the potential is there.
The Pacers still have a lot of uncertainty at center
It is not a surprise, but the Pacers are in a difficult spot with Turner officially off the team. They are going to have an incredibly difficult job replacing him, even if he left a lot to be desired in the NBA Finals. He was a great fit alongside Pascal Siakam and is great at stretching the floor and protecting the rim.
As it stands, it does not seem that the Pacers are going to put the pressure on one player to replace their long-time center. Instead, they will run a committee and see who sticks out. In addition to Jackson, the Pacers also have Jay Huff, James Wiseman, and Tony Bradley rounding out their center depth. All of these players bring some value. However, they each have different skillsets, which makes this position battle very intriguing.
Jackson has been with the team the longest as has had numerous big moments with the team. Furthermore, he looked solid last year before suffering an Achilles injury. However, it has yet to be seen how well he will play following this injury, and it is a bit concerning that the Pacers are putting so much trust in him given the circumstances.
There is a lot to like about Jackson. He is athletic and physical, and he brings great energy to the court. While he is not much of a perimeter shooter, he still provides offensive value, even if it is in a different way than Turner did.
Ultimately, this decision was a no-brainer for the Pacers. They need as much center help as possible, and bringing Jackson back is not going to break the bank. Furthermore, he is still very young and can be part of the team's long-term future as they look to re-establish themselves as title contenders.
Next year is likely going to be a gap year as the Pacers work things out. In addition to Turner's departure, the team also has to decide how they are going to navigate without Tyrese Haliburton, who will miss the season due to an Achilles injury. Because of this, Indiana has a unique opportunity to showcase some of their younger guys, and it seems like this will also include Jackson, who could be in line for a career year.