Isaiah Jackson

Jackson tore his Achilles tendon last November, and it's unclear if he'll be ready for the start of training camp. However, the Pacers don't appear to be concerned about his long-term availability, as they signed Jackson to a three-year, $21 million deal this offseason. Tyrese Haliburton isn't expected to play in 2025-26 after tearing his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and that news played a part in long-time starting center Myles Turner leaving for Milwaukee in free agency. With Turner gone, there's a massive hole in Indiana's starting lineup, and Jackson, if healthy, is a candidate to fill that spot. James Wiseman, who's also recovering from an Achilles injury, is another candidate, while Jay Huff, Tony Bradley, Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker could also see consistent minutes at the five throughout the season. Huff is the only true center that is healthy, so he probably has the upper hand. Bradley, Toppin and Walker are all undersized when playing the five but are capable if needed. Jackson has never averaged more than 17 minutes per game for an entire season, but he grabs rebounds and puts up defensive stats in a hurry. If he's able to separate himself from the rest of Indiana's centers, Jackson could be a draft-day steal, but you won't have to use a top-200 pick to secure his services, and he's more valuable in category leagues as a defensive specialist. Read Past Outlooks