According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Indiana Pacers are actively searching for a new center of the future ahead of this year's trade deadline.
"The Pacers are in active trade talks around the league to find a center of the future after losing Myles Turner in free agency, sources said," Charania wrote.
This report shouldn't come as much of a surprise. The Pacers lost long-time big man Myles Turner in free agency after he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. And their center-by-committee is mostly looking like a disappointment. Or, at the very least, nobody on the team (maybe outside of Jay Huff... maybe) is proving they can be a long-term starting center for the Pacers.
It may not happen this season, but Indiana is going to look to re-enter the title picture and potentially go on another NBA Finals run, especially once Tyrese Haliburton comes back. In order for them to do so, the team needs a center they can trust. And if Charania's report is true, the Pacers may have their answer on the roster ahead of February's trade deadline.
The Pacers might still need a center upgrade
Indiana's center-by-committee hasn't been a complete disaster, but it's still leaving a lot to be desired.
The team waived James Wiseman very early on in the season, and Tony Bradley looks like a borderline non-factor on the team (he is averaging 6.3 minutes across seven games since Nov. 19).
Isaiah Jackson is playing well and looking like he can continue to be a solid backup for many years. But that's the problem. He has looked solid when the team was hoping he would elevate his game and showcase that he has what it takes to be their next long-term starting center.
The real "hero" so far has been Huff, who the Pacers acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies to essentially be the Turner replacement. After a slow start to the season, the Virginia alum has drastically turned things around. In his last 10 games, he is averaging 10.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 3.4 blocks while shooting 48.1% from the field and 36.5% from deep.
There is a lot to like about Huff and his fit in Indiana. He is increasingly looking much more comfortable on defense, and his shot is finally beginning to fall. However, there are valid questions about whether the Pacers can trust him to contribute on a winning team. He still looks like he may be too slow to run in their offense, and this is before Haliburton is even back on the court.
The jury is still out on Huff, but it seems that the Pacers may look to get their answer elsewhere and acquire an upgrade at center.
Pacers reportedly have interest in obvious trade target
According to Ben Anderson of KSL, the Pacers may reportedly have interest in Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler.
“I’ve heard the Indiana Pacers have inquired about Walker Kessler for a long time …. a lot. That’s going back to the summer, they’ve lost Myles Turner… before the injury and even after the injury… This is no one with the Jazz, but other people who have similar jobs to me have heard similar things," Anderson said on "The Jazz Notes" podcast.
Kessler is currently out for the season due to a shoulder injury, so it's unclear just how likely the Pacers are to trade for him this season. But the fit is there, and he would certainly be an upgrade at the position.
Last season, the Atlanta native averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds (including a league-leading 4.6 offensive rebounds), 1.7 assists, and 2.4 blocks while shooting 66.3% from the field in 58 games.
Kessler is a young big man who fits the Pacers' timeline, and he provides a ton of potential defensively and on the boards. Utah opted not to sign him to a contract extension in the offseason, leading many to believe he could potentially be on the move at some point soon.
There will likely be multiple teams interested in the 24-year-old's talents once he returns from injury. And it seems like the Pacers may be near the top of that list.