Pacers expecting battle for backup center spot with more decisions to come after
The Indiana Pacers have many position battles coming in training camp. Most of them are rooted in one player getting more minutes than another or deciding on a starter at a position, but one stands out as being the most ruthless.
The backup center competition will be unique for the blue and gold in that many players will be vying for a small amount of playing time. Daniel Theis, Isaiah Jackson, and Jalen Smith would all love to be Myles Turner's backup, but they will have to earn it.
"I think that's all going to play out on the court. Obviously, I think Myles is going to be an anchor for us. The other three guys, between Isaiah, Jalen, Daniel, it's going to be very competitive starting from day one," general manager Chad Buchanan said on Tuesday. He added that each of the players have been going at each other in workouts. The Pacers roster is already together in preparation for training camp.
The case for each player could depend on Indiana's goals. The front office has preached a long-term, patient approach to team building in the last two offseasons, but multiple players have stated their desire for the Pacers to be a playoff team this season. The direction the team chooses could impact their choice at the backup five spot.
Theis is the established veteran and has shown the most skill of the three. He is a bruising screener — better than anyone else on the roster — and a good decision maker with the ball. His mid-range jumper is a weapon, and he is smart in the pick-and-roll. The German big man pairs well with several types of ball handlers, and he showed his skills during his Gold Medal run with Germany in the World Cup.
Theis is better in slower, methodical offensive schemes. Indiana's offense is the exact opposite. Despite his obvious talent, Theis does have some fit concerns, though he didn't get much of a chance to prove otherwise last season with just 109 minutes of action.
If the Pacers opt to chase a postseason berth, Theis may be the early leader to be the backup five. But the other young bigs could close the talent gap and earn the spot with improvements.
Jackson provides an athleticism element that nobody else on the roster can. He jumps out of the gym, and the vertical spacing he adds pairs well with some of Indiana's passers.
He still fouls often and jumps at shot fakes too much to consistently guard centers, and his jump shot has never materialized. But Jackson is one of the most unique players in the NBA, and the former first-round pick is still just 21-years old. He's worth a look in his third year, especially because centers tend to take longer to develop.
Smith is in the same boat. He is entering his fourth season and is a solid rebounder. His defense has improved since joining the Pacers, and he has shown flashes of being a threat as a three-point shooter. But his efficiency hasn't been consistent, and neither has his defensive ability.
He's still 23, and he fits well in the Pacers style. Head coach Rick Carlisle is a fan of his game and gushed about him last summer. But he has some important skills he will need to develop if he wants to be the obvious choice for the backup five spot.
"I think coach Carlisle and us in the front office want to see how it plays out on the court. We don't want to give anybody something right now. It's got to be earned," Buchanan said of the backup center minutes. "I think that's the growth of a team, the growth of a player is earning your minutes and earning your role," he continued. "Daniel had a great offseason with his German national team. Isaiah and Jalen had great summers with us. It's going to play out on the court to determine who plays that backup center spot."
The three are battling for a small role, and two of them won't play at all. Additionally, one tweak the Pacers could make mid-season is giving some center minutes to lottery pick Jarace Walker, and that would shove all three players out of the rotation. The competition is going to be fierce.
Walker's skill set is another factor here. If the rookie comes off the bench at the four, then his minutes will overlap with whatever backup center Indiana chooses. Since Walker's shooting is a question mark, pairing him with floor spacers could be important, and that may be an argument in favor of Smith or Theis getting minutes. But Jackson could be the best defensive partner for Walker and his mobility. There are many factors at play in the frontcourt.
A Pacers team chasing wins could prefer Theis. If they are looking at development, then Jackson or Smith could be the answer, with fit and improvement being important factors. There is no wrong answer for the blue and gold.
But there is money at stake. Jackson and Theis both have team options in their contract for next season, and Smith has a player option. Smith could have his salary next season anyway, but the former two could be playing to earn their contract. That is an added element of motivation.
Two of the three players won't play much outside of situations where there are injuries. Having serviceable talent that is riding the bench isn't the best use of assets, though depth is important. Buchanan acknowledged that trades could be an option in the frontcourt.
The GM wants to see all four players in camp, but once a choice is made at the backup five, the team will look at its options. "I think that could be something that's coming that we'll have to make a decision on. We also want to see how the season goes, see how the season starts," he said of possibly making moves and setting the rotation. He mentioned the possibility of a different player earning the role at different times throughout the season depending on effectiveness. It will be fluid.
"Having four centers is something we're going to have to figure out the long-term answer for," he said. That will be a storyline to monitor for the Pacers in training camp and beyond.
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