The Indiana Pacers recently signed Isaiah Jackson to a new three-year deal, and as it stands, there is a good chance he is their starting center next season. While he provides a lot of value, for him and the Pacers to remain title contenders for the long run, Jackson needs to work on his jumper.
There is a lot to like about the Michigan native and his future with the Pacers. Despite coming off an Achilles injury, he is still just 23 years old. Furthermore, he knows the system well and may have been in line for a career year last season prior to his injury. Jackson has had big moments in Indiana, but he must continue to evolve as the team is going to put a lot of trust in him.
Next year is going to be a bit of a gap year for the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton will miss the season due to an Achilles injury, and the team still needs to figure out how the team will look without Myles Turner. They will have an opportunity to experiment a bit, which should bode well for them in the long haul as they can see what does or doesn’t work. This will include seeing what Jackson can offer in an expanded role as he could be their next center if all goes right.
Isaiah Jackson is an intriguing big man for the Pacers
In his last full season with the Pacers, things were looking good for Jackson, who essentially stole the backup center role from Jalen Smith. And, on paper, there is a lot to like about his game. He is physical, energetic, and athletic. He is a bit undersized to be a full-time starting center, but he plays bigger than he is, which should not make this much of a problem.
