Following Myles Turner's stunning departure in free agency, the Indiana Pacers are now in desperate need of a new starting center. According to head coach Rick Carlisle, though, it is looking like the Pacers' next starting center will be Isaiah Jackson.
"Rick Carlisle says that Isaiah Jackson has been working with the starting 5 in pickup games, but nothing is set in stone on who will start," Alex Golden of the "Setting the Pace" podcast wrote on X.
Rick Carlisle says that Isaiah Jackson has been working with the starting 5 in pickup games, but nothing is set in stone on who will start.
— Alex Golden (@AlexGoldenNBA) September 29, 2025
Indiana offered Jackson a qualifying offer in the offseason and ultimately signed him to a three-year, $21 million contract, which confused some NBA execs. Regardless, it is pretty clear that the Pacers value the Michigan native, and with him playing pickup games alongside the first unit, it is fair to assume that the starting job is his to lose.
Is Isaiah Jackson the Pacers' best starting center option?
There is a lot to like about Jackson and his potential role as the starter. He is incredibly athletic (which is something Carlisle is well aware of), has elite potential as a rim protector, and brings a lot of energy whenever he steps onto the court. Plus, he has long been a good backup in Indiana, and he likely would have been in line for a bigger role last season following Jalen Smith's departure had he not suffered an Achilles injury.
That is exactly it, though. It can't be ignored that Jackson is fresh off a season-ending Achilles injury, and it is still unknown exactly how he will play upon his return.
The idea of Jackson as Indiana's starting center is great. It also helps that he has been with the team since 2021 and has proven that he can run in their system. However, putting this much trust in him right away could backfire. Not only has the 23-year-old not played in an NBA game in nearly a full year, but he is also in line for the biggest role of his career yet. Not easing him in is a risky move, and it could ultimately be a mistake.
Additionally, the Pacers have another player on the roster who may be better off starting for the team, at least right away: Jay Huff.
Indiana acquired Huff from the Memphis Grizzlies in the offseason after Turner left in free agency. There is a lot to like about the Virginia alum and what he can bring to the Pacers. Most notably, he is a big man who can stretch the floor (he shot 40.5% from the three-point line on 3.1 attempts per game last season), protect the rim, and run the length of the court. He has not done it as consistently or at as high a level, but his skillset is very similar to Turner's. If the Pacers want a seamless transition at center, Huff might be their guy.
It is also fair to say that Huff does not have the experience with the Pacers that Jackson does, but he is now on his fifth team in as many years and should be able to adapt rather quickly. Plus, he already has a fan in Obi Toppin, which should bode well for his spot in Indiana.
Whether Jackson deserves to be the Pacers' starting center or not is a tough question to answer. He has shown a lot of promise during his run with the team already, and he deserves to take on a bigger role. However, putting this much on his plate early on is incredibly risky.
The safe play would be to start Huff and then, if anything, transition to Jackson down the line. However, if the Pacers have proved anything over the past couple of years, it is that they don't play things safe. And, to be fair, that has worked out for them more than it hasn't.