The Indiana Pacers seem to like Quenton Jackson enough to potentially sign him to a standard deal by the end of this season. And as it stands, he should have plenty of opportunities moving forward to justify Indiana's belief in him.
For the rest of this season and the next, the Pacers may need more backcourt depth (or at least some clarity). They are still in need of a dependable third point guard for next season behind Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell, and if all goes right, Jackson could be that guy if he plays his cards right.
Quenton Jackson can step up for the Pacers
The Los Angeles native provides a lot of value, and there's a reason Pacers fans have been begging for him to take on a bigger role.
He is incredibly athletic and is a smart basketball player on both sides of the ball. Jackson rarely forces anything on offense. He is a tough defender who knows how to make life difficult for the opposition, and he is a beast in transition. And without Bennedict Mathurin on the roster anymore, the Pacers need another guy who can drive to the rim at will.
Through 26 games this season (including 10 starts), Jackson has averaged 8.3 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 48% from the field and 40.7% from deep in 15.9 minutes. This includes some fantastic performances that may have put him even more on Indiana's radar.
On Nov. 1, the Texas A&M alum recorded a 25-point, 10-assist double-double against the Golden State Warriors and helped the Pacers secure their first win of the season. Additionally, earlier this month, he scored 24 points on 9-for-10 shooting in just 17 minutes against the Utah Jazz.
The Pacers may also want to see a bit more of Kam Jones, who has been solid in his last handful of games, but I think this is Jackson's opportunity to lose.
Jackson has been with the team for nearly two calendar years and has constantly proven that he is too good to be on a two-way contract. He does have some limited upside considering he will be 28 years old at the start of next season, but the Pacers don't need him to be their point guard of the future. They just need him to come in, bring some energy, and play smart basketball.
Not only does he do exactly that, but he will often take it above and beyond and run away with the opportunity by putting together a fantastic performance. Jones may have him beat from a potential perspective, but he'll have plenty of time to hone his craft. Jackson, on the other hand, can play a real role for Indiana and help them compete as soon as next season.
Plus, it's already pretty clear that head coach Rick Carlisle is a fan of what he brings to the table as well.
"He's played well all year in every different role you can be in," Carlisle said about Jackson after his game against the Jazz on Feb. 3. "He's been a third-stringer. He's been a G Leaguer on a two-way. He's been a starter. I mean, if it wasn't for him, I don't know if we would've ever won a game at the beginning of the season. ... He's been great."
Jackson will be a player worth monitoring for the rest of the season. He has a great opportunity to prove he can contribute at a high level, and it might be enough to solidify his role in Indiana for the long haul.