The Indiana Pacers' bet on the center position after Myles Turner's departure
Chad Buchanan, the franchise's general manager, has recently spoken about the upcoming offseason that the team awaits in the summer of 2025.
After losing their longtime starting center, Myles Turner, who has moved to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Indiana Pacers will opt for a collective approach at the center position for the 2025/26 season. This was confirmed by general manager Chad Buchanan on the Setting The Pace podcast.
Indiana recently re-signed Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, and also completed a trade with the Grizzlies to add Jay Huff to the roster. The veteran Tony Bradley is also on the team, but his contract is non-guaranteed, so he could be left out if Jackson and Wiseman recover from their respective Achilles tendon injuries.
Jay Huff: a fit for the Pacer philosophy
Buchanan explained that Huff already caught the attention of the coaching staff and the data analytics department when he delivered a great performance against the Pacers' G League affiliate team a couple of years ago. "We saw him this season in Memphis when he got minutes and shone. He ran the floor well, finished at the rim, hit threes, and protected the rim. He's not a perfect player, but he has many of the qualities we were looking for to cover what we lost with Myles Turner," Buchanan said (via The Indianapolis Star).
Confidence in Wiseman and Jackson
Indiana's GM also praised Jackson, noting that his style offers a different alternative within the system. Regarding James Wiseman, Buchanan stated that the former number 2 draft pick is in good physical condition, although he still needs to overcome key stages of his recovery: "He still needs to clear hurdles like returning to 5-on-5 play, but we are very encouraged by how his recovery is progressing," he said.
Return of Victor Oladipo?
Buchanan confirmed that the Pacers attended Victor Oladipo's private workout in Las Vegas but downplayed the expectations of a possible return of the former All-Star: "We have a history with Victor, of course. But just like with any player, if he fits at the right moment, we will assess it. We are no different from the other teams that also went to see him," the executive stated.
James Johnson's Situation
On the other hand, James Johnson, who has spent parts of the last three seasons in Indiana, wants to continue playing, but his continuity is uncertain. "Tyrese's injury has a domino effect on how we structure the roster. Right now, it would be difficult to find him a spot, although that could change," explained Buchanan.
It's worth noting that Johnson signed several short-term contracts last season before securing his extension until the end of the campaign.
Haliburton in Touch with Durant and Tatum
In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Tyrese Haliburton revealed that he has spoken with Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum to understand in detail their Achilles tendon recovery processes. The information was reported by Souichi Terada of MassLive.com.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La apuesta de los Indiana Pacers en el puesto de pívot tras la marcha de Myles Turner