3:59 pm: Jackson has officially re-signed with the Pacers, the team announced today in a press release.
2:59 pm: The Pacers and restricted free agent center Isaiah Jackson have reached an agreement on a new three-year contract worth $21MM, agents Drew Morrison and Sam Rose tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The 22nd overall pick in the 2021 draft, Jackson played a modest role through his first four seasons in Indiana, averaging 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 15.0 minutes per game across 163 appearances (31 starts). He missed nearly the entire 2024/25 season due to a right Achilles tear that he suffered in the sixth game of the season.
James Wiseman, who sustained a torn Achilles of his own in the Pacers’ regular season opener last October, appeared to have moved ahead of Jackson on the center depth chart entering the season. Given that context and the fact that Jackson is now coming off a major injury, it was somewhat surprising that the 23-year-old received a $6.4MM qualifying offer from Indiana last month to make him a restricted free agent.
That qualifying offer and this new three-year agreement are strong signals that the Pacers still believe in Jackson’s potential and feel good about where he’s at in his recovery from Achilles surgery.
The QO also makes more sense in retrospect knowing that Myles Turner‘s return to Indiana wasn’t the virtual lock that it seemed to be entering the free agent period. With Turner now in Milwaukee, Jackson will have an opportunity this fall to compete for minutes at center with Jay Huff, Tony Bradley, and Wiseman, who has returned to the Pacers on a new deal of his own.
Jackson’s new deal will give the Pacers 15 players on standard contracts for 2025/26, though Wiseman only has a partial guarantee and Bradley’s 2025/26 salary is non-guaranteed, so it’s possible those two big men will be battling for a single roster spot.
Overpaying Isaiah Jackson just to make it look like you didn’t want Myles Turner back that bad is some crazy mental gymnastics. Ownership and the front office just needs to own up that they were completely blindsided by the Bucks waiving Damian Lillard, that they thought they could just keep lowballing Turner because they didn’t think the money was out there for him. These quotes coming from the Pritchard, Carlisle, and ownership are just embarrassing at this point.
If you were able to combine Tony Bradley, Jackson, Jay Huff, and Wiseman into a single person, you could maybe get 90% of Turner. Too bad this isn’t baseball, you can’t just replace someone in the aggregate with sabremetrics.
Yes, they could have overpaid Turner…but by overpaying Turner, the Pacers would probably have to let either Mathurin or Nesmith go in the next year or two. There was no chance that they could re-sign everyone and remain under the second apron. Something had to give. And while there are pros / cons for retaining each of those players…I am not upset that Turner is the one to go. Not happy…but not upset about it at all. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucks try to trade him after a year or two.
$27m a year for a starting stretch 5 who blocks shots in the NBA an overpay?
Yes, blocking shots doesnt necessarily equate to great defense, same goes for steals.
Turner is a mediocre defender in general, he isnt a cornerstone he is a role player. In other words, he is replaceable. He isnt like Siakam or Haliburton.
So 27m is too much to pay for Myles Turner. Only time will tell based on how both teams finish in the next couple of seasons.
Jackson and Jalen Smith both played really well in limited minutes in 23/24. Jackson can be a beast on the Boards. 1st rounder now getting his chance to shine.
Though different kinds of centers, nowadays all of them backups, have a roster spot in Indiana, there seems there is not place for Jahlil Okafor still. The best one on one post scorer of all of them. Hard to see better post moves than that guy.
Because a slow, lumbering post scorer doesn’t fit in this offense. The offense isn’t going to be as fast paced without Haliburton but they’re still going to run.