INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers are continuing to make moves to shore up their frontcourt after losing their starting center to a divisional rival in free agency.
IJax is back
Multiple reports Friday indicate that Indiana is bringing back center Isaiah Jackson on a three-year, $21 million deal. ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report the news.
“The Pacers are excited about Jackson’s development, return, and now lock in a young member of their core,” Charania wrote in a post on X.
Jackson became a free agent this offseason after his previous deal with the Pacers expired. The 6’9″, 205-pound big man from Detroit will now enter his fifth NBA season as an Indiana Pacer.
A former Kentucky Wildcat, the undersized center began last season as a bench player for the Pacers. However, he stepped into a bigger-than-expected role just one game into the season after backup James Wiseman went down with an Achilles injury.
Unfortunately, Jackson soon met the same fate when, just five games later, he too tore his right Achilles tendon. In the five games he did play last season, Jackson averaged 7.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 16.8 minutes per game.
Other frontcourt moves
In addition to re-signing Jackson, the Pacers have made three other moves at the center position this offseason.
Tony Bradley
On June 29, various sources confirmed that Indiana picked up a $2.94 million team option on center Tony Bradley’s contract.
A late addition for the team last season for the Pacers, Bradley averaged 4.4. points and 3 rebounds per game on 64% shooting.
Jay Huff
On July 5, the Pacers reportedly agreed to a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies to acquire center Jay Huff. In exchange, the Pacers sent back one second-round pick and one second-round pick swap.
Huff averaged 6.9 points and two rebounds per game in his one season with Memphis while shooting 40.5% from three.
James Wiseman
Then, on July 7, the team’s President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard announced that Indiana will bring back Wiseman on a new contract.
A former #2 overall pick for the Golden State Warriors in the 2020 NBA Draft, Wiseman tore his Achilles tendon during the Pacers’ home opener last season.
The big man looked good in his Pacers debut until getting injured, putting up six points and grabbing one rebound in just five minutes of action.
All of these moves come after the Pacers’ long-time starting center, Myles Turner, left the team in free agency after 10 seasons with Indiana.
Turner’s departure
Turner’s departure became public on July 1 when ESPN and Charania announced he had agreed to a four-year, $107 million deal to join the Milwaukee Bucks. Turner, the longest tenured Pacer, was a free agent and able to sign with any NBA team.
In the end, Turner opted to sign with Indiana’s divisional rival in Milwaukee.
Charania stated that Turner “wished to remain in Indiana” after being so close to winning the city’s first NBA championship. Turner’s reps reportedly pushed to keep the center in Indiana but “Indiana’s aversion to the tax, which grew after Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, allowed the Bucks to get the new franchise center.”
As for Indiana’s front office, top exec Pritchard said he was “shocked” and that the team was prepared to go “deep” into the luxury tax to resign Turner, but confirmed they did not get a chance to match Milwaukee’s offer.
“How do you replace Myles Turner? Unless he has a clone, I don’t think you fully can,” Pritchard said.
These recent moves to sign Jackson, Bradley, Huff and Wiseman appear to be Indiana’s attempt to replace the fan-favorite Turner. Pritchard said the four players will now vie for the vacant starting center position.
To read Turner’s full goodbye to the Pacers and the city of Indianapolis, click here.