Is Jay Huff the Indiana Pacers’ Center of the Future?
The Indiana Pacers are in a transitional phase in the 2025-26 season. After a heartbreaking NBA Finals loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games the previous year—where Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7—the team is without its All-NBA engine for the entire campaign. Myles Turner, their longtime starting center and rim protector, shockingly departed in free agency to join the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers, sitting at a dismal 6-19 record as of mid-December 2025, are clearly in a “gap year,” rebuilding and evaluating talent while eyeing a stronger push when Haliburton returns next season.
Amid this turmoil, one player has emerged as a beacon of hope at the center position: Jay Huff. Acquired in a low-cost offseason trade from the Memphis Grizzlies for distant second-round picks, the 7’1″ stretch big has gone from a rotational question mark to the Pacers’ primary center. Recent reports indicate the front office is actively shopping for an upgrade—linked to names like Ivica Zubac, Daniel Gafford, Walker Kessler, and even Anthony Davis. But a growing chorus of analysts and fans argues that the “center of the future” is already staring the Pacers in the face. Huff’s breakout performance suggests he just might be the answer, especially on a team-friendly contract in a system that doesn’t demand a superstar big man.
Jay Huff’s Journey to Indiana
James Matthew Huff, born August 25, 1998, in Durham, North Carolina, has been a late bloomer. A four-year player at the University of Virginia under Tony Bennett, Huff contributed to the Cavaliers’ 2019 national championship as a redshirt freshman, though injuries limited him early. His senior season in 2020-21 showcased his potential: 13.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game on elite efficiency (58.5% FG, 38.7% 3PT), earning All-ACC and All-Defensive honors.
Undrafted in 2021, Huff bounced around: two-way deals with the Lakers, stints with the Wizards and Nuggets, and finally rotation minutes in Memphis during 2024-25 (6.9 PPG, 40.5% from three in limited play). The Pacers traded for him in July 2025 precisely because his skill set mirrored Turner’s—a mobile rim protector who can space the floor.
Early in 2025-26, Huff struggled, shooting poorly and adjusting to a bigger role amid the team’s committee approach at center (alongside Isaiah Jackson and others). But since mid-November, he’s turned it around dramatically, seizing the starting job and becoming one of the league’s top shot-blockers.
Huff’s Breakout Stats and Impact
As of December 15, 2025, Huff has established himself as Indiana’s go-to center, starting consistently and delivering elite production in limited minutes (around 25-30 per game). He’s leading the NBA in blocks per game in recent stretches, often around 3-4 per contest, while providing spacing that fits Rick Carlisle’s pace-and-space offense.
Key recent performances highlight his upside:
- vs. Philadelphia (recent loss): 13 points (4-11 3PT), 4 rebounds, 3 blocks in 28 minutes.
- vs. Sacramento: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals in 31 minutes.
- vs. Cleveland: 15 points (3-6 3PT), 3 rebounds, 3 blocks in 26 minutes.
- vs. Chicago: 14 points (4-8 3PT), 8 rebounds, 4 blocks in 25 minutes.
- Career-high 20 points vs. Charlotte (November 19), with efficient scoring and rim protection.
Over his last 10-15 games, Huff is averaging roughly 11-12 points, 5 rebounds, 2-3 assists, and 3+ blocks, shooting around 48-50% overall and 35-37% from three. He’s had multiple games with 4+ threes and 4+ blocks—a rare “unicorn” combination for a center. His defensive impact is massive: multi-block games are routine, and he’s anchoring a depleted Pacers defense without Haliburton.
Compared to Myles Turner in his prime Pacers years, Huff offers similar traits: floor-spacing (Turner was a career ~35% 3PT shooter), shot-blocking, and vertical spacing for drivers like Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin. But Huff does it on a bargain deal—$2 million this season and next, with a team option for 2027-28—versus the max-level contracts the Pacers are reportedly eyeing for trade targets.
Why Huff Fits the Pacers’ System Perfectly
The Pacers don’t need a dominant post scorer like Jokić or Embiid. Their offense thrives on ball movement, pick-and-pop actions, and transition—Haliburton’s playmaking elevates spacers and rollers. Turner thrived in this for years without being an All-Star center. Huff unlocks the same:
- Offense: His three-point shooting pulls bigs out of the paint, opening driving lanes. When Haliburton returns, imagine the high screens and pops—Huff’s gravity will create even more chaos.
- Defense: Elite rim protection without fouling excessively (though he has games with high fouls). He’s mobile enough to switch in pick-and-rolls, fitting Carlisle’s schemes.
- Intangibles: At 27 (turning 28), he’s entering his prime. His Virginia pedigree emphasizes team play and efficiency. He’s cheap, allowing cap flexibility for extensions or additions elsewhere.
Critics point to weaknesses: rebounding isn’t elite (around 4-5 per game), he can be bullied by physical bigs, and early-season struggles raised doubts about consistency. There’s also the question of playoff intensity—can he hold up in a Game 7? But in a “gap year” without Haliburton, these are fair tests. Huff has passed recent ones with flying colors, outplaying expectations and even other internal options like Jackson.
The Case Against Trading Assets for Another Center
Reports suggest the Pacers are inquiring about upgrades ahead of the February trade deadline. Zubac would add rebounding, Gafford athleticism, Kessler youth—but at what cost? First-round picks, young assets, or salary matching could deplete a roster already thin due to injuries and departures.
Why spend when Huff is producing starter-level impact for pennies? He’s under control affordably, and his game projects to improve further alongside Haliburton. Drafting a center or waiting for free agency next summer makes more sense if Huff continues this trajectory. As one analyst put it: “The Pacers don’t need Shaquille O’Neal or Nikola Jokić back there… Huff unlocks their preferred system on both ends.”
Fan sentiment on platforms like Reddit echoes this: “Call me crazy, but Jay Huff is rapidly developing into a starting center… Imagine how he’ll look when Ty returns. We don’t need an All-Star center for our offense to work.”
Conclusion: Yes, He Just Might Be
Jay Huff isn’t a household name yet, but his rapid ascent in Indiana screams “found money.” In a season of adversity, he’s provided stability, excitement, and production at the most glaring hole on the roster. The Pacers’ front office would be wise to let this play out—give Huff the full season (and beyond) as the starter, evaluate with Haliburton next year, and preserve assets for other needs.
The center of the future? It’s staring them right in the face, and his name is Jay Huff. If he sustains this level, the Pacers might look back at that cheap trade from Memphis as the steal that stabilized their post-Turner era.
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