The Indiana Pacers have a few options to start at center next season, but by most accounts, it seems like Jay Huff is their guy.
In a shocking turn of events in the offseason, the Pacers lost Myles Turner in free agency after he signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. Now, they are being tasked with determining what is next for their center situation after losing their former long-time big man.
As it stands, Indiana has a few options. They re-signed James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson (restricted) in free agency, and they picked up Tony Bradley's team option (though this probably won't matter much). While these are decent options, the Pacers' best choice to be their starting center next season is Huff, and it might not even be close.
In a recent appearance on The Athletic NBA Daily podcast, Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote said that she thinks Huff will be the Pacers' starter mostly because of how similar his skillset is to Turner's, as well as how good of a fit he should be alongside Pascal Siakam.
"I kind of anticipate, without seeing training camp and knowing exactly what Isaiah [Jackson] and James [Wiseman] look right now, that Jay will likely be the starter at the beginning of the season, just because I think it's a little bit easier [to] carry over to try to match what they were doing with Myles Turner with Jay Huff, especially for Pascal Siakam's sake," Cooper said.
Jay Huff will have a great chance to shine in Indiana
The Pacers acquired Huff from the Memphis Grizzlies shortly after losing Turner. While this was never classified as some type of blockbuster move, there are still plenty of reasons for Pacers fans to be excited about his arrival.
There is a lot to like about the Virginia alum's game. He can stretch the floor, protect the rim, and run the court: all things Turner was excellent at in Indiana. It also helps that he stands at 7-foot-1 and is a legitimate presence on the court. Additionally, currently on a four-year, $10.1 million contract, he is on an incredibly team-friendly deal, which is even more appealing for the Pacers considering that they are still trying to avoid the luxury tax.
While Huff can provide some value, there is a reason he is not immediately considered the favorite to be the Pacers' next big man.
Huff had a breakout season last year, but fans still don't know exactly what he can do in an expanded role. The Pacers are his fifth team in as many seasons, and prior to last year, he had not played more than 20 games in a season. Furthermore, even when including last season, he has logged double-digit minutes in just 40 career games. Still, he is a very appealing center for the Pacers, and he could be in line for another career year.
Though there is a lot to like about the North Carolina native, the Pacers also have some intriguing options in Jackson and Wiseman. As it stands, Indiana is expected to run a center-by-committee and just ride the hot hand on a game-by-game basis. It's not ideal, but it could work with the players they currently have rostered. However, the Pacers will need an established starting center down the line, and there is a good chance that Huff becomes that guy.