Rick Carlisle just confirmed what fans were thinking: the Indiana Pacers are running a committee at center in the wake of Myles Turner's departure (h/t Green Light with Chris Long).
"We lost Myles Turner to free agency, but we're gonna get the wheels on the wagon there. We just traded for Jay Huff, another UVA guy, who can really shoot it, and he's gonna be part of a center-by-committee deal, which I've done before, and all this is doable," Carlisle said.
Many expected Turner to remain in Indiana this offseason. He had spent his first 10 seasons with the team and was a great fit next to Pascal Siakam. However, in an unexpected move, the 29-year-old signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, a division rival.
Now, the Pacers are tasked with having to replace their long-time big man. If the offseason has proved anything so far, it is that the team will not have an easy time doing this. Despite his flaws, Turner is excellent at stretching the floor and can protect the rim. He is far from the best center in the NBA, but he has a unique skillset that will be tough for Indiana to replicate.
As it stands, it seems that the Pacers are opting to audition multiple big men to see who sticks out. They may not be able to replace Turner with one player (especially within the same offseason), but they might be able to rely on numerous options to fill the void. And, according to Carlisle, this is exactly what the team will try to do next season.
The Pacers have a big question to answer at center
Though they will have multiple big men fight it out, the Pacers still need to decide who their next starting center is going to be. Furthermore, they must figure out if they are good enough to be a starter on a legitimate contending team.
As it stands, Isaiah Jackson seems like the most likely option to be the team's starting center for next season. He has been with the team since 2021, he is a great fit for the system, and he is still young. It is important to remember that the Michigan native is coming off an Achilles tear and has not played since November, but there is a lot to like about his game, and the starting center job is his to lose.
There are other intriguing center options for Indiana beyond Jackson. Earlier this offseason, they traded for Jay Huff, re-signed James Wiseman, and exercised Tony Bradley's team option. It is incredibly unlikely that the Pacers will roster all of these big men for the regular season. However, they all provide value in different ways.
Huff is a Turner-lite in the sense that he can stretch the floor and provide solid defensive value. He has yet to play in an expanded role, but he has potential. Bradley is a good rebounder and played his role well in the NBA Finals. As for Wiseman, though he will likely never live up to his pre-draft hype, he is still a legitimate big man at 7'0" and can develop into a real contributor with the Pacers.
The Pacers are not likely to be legitimate title contenders next year. Not only is Turner gone, but Tyrese Haliburton will miss the entire season with an Achilles injury. Still, this Pacers team has a bright future, and it is important that they address their uncertainties as soon as possible. This includes their center position, which will be a crucial storyline to follow in what most expect will be a gap year.