The Indiana Pacers’ Center Crisis: Myles Turner’s Departure Leaves a Haunting Void for 2025-26

The Indiana Pacers, coming off a surprising NBA Finals appearance in 2024-25, face a daunting challenge as they head into the 2025-26 season: a glaring weakness at the center position following Myles Turner’s shocking departure to the Milwaukee Bucks. Turner, the franchise’s longest-tenured player and all-time leader in blocked shots, signed a four-year, $108.9 million deal with Milwaukee in July 2025, leaving Indiana scrambling to fill the void, as reported by Sports Illustrated. The loss, compounded by star guard Tyrese Haliburton’s season-long absence due to a torn Achilles, has made the center position the Pacers’ biggest question mark, one that could haunt them all season, per Sporting News. This article explores the impact of Turner’s exit, the Pacers’ attempts to address the center crisis, the challenges they face, and the broader implications for their championship aspirations.

Myles Turner’s Departure: A Shocking Blow

Myles Turner’s decision to leave Indiana after a decade was a seismic shift for the franchise. Drafted 11th overall in 2015, Turner spent 10 seasons with the Pacers, averaging 14.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks on 49.7% shooting across 642 games, per Basketball-Reference. His 1,245 career blocks made him Indiana’s all-time leader, and his 34.7% three-point shooting provided floor spacing, a rarity for centers. Turner’s final season (2024-25) saw the Pacers reach their first NBA Finals since 2000, though they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7, with Turner averaging 17.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in the playoffs, per ESPN.

His move to Milwaukee, announced on July 12, 2025, stunned fans and analysts, as reported by ProFootballNetwork.com. Turner cited a desire to “stay competitive” and join Giannis Antetokounmpo under coach Doc Rivers, per Forbes. “For me, ultimately it was about just staying competitive,” Turner said at his Bucks introductory press conference (8points9seconds.com). The Pacers, unwilling to exceed the luxury tax threshold, let Turner walk, a decision criticized by fans given his role in their Finals run, per beIN SPORTS.

Turner’s departure hurts for multiple reasons. His rim protection (1.9 blocks per game in 2024-25) and floor spacing (1.5 threes made per game) were integral to Indiana’s high-octane offense, which ranked third in points per game (120.5), per NBA.com. Without him, the Pacers face a defensive and spacing void, especially with Haliburton sidelined, forcing reliance on younger, unproven bigs.

The Pacers’ Center Options: A Patchwork Approach

To address the void, the Pacers traded for Jay Huff from the Memphis Grizzlies, sending a second-round pick and a future pick swap, per beIN SPORTS. Huff, a 7-foot-1 center, averaged 6.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in limited minutes with Memphis in 2024-25, shooting 40.2% from three, per Basketball-Reference. His skill set mirrors Turner’s—rim protection and floor spacing—but his lack of starting experience (12 career starts) raises concerns about his readiness, per IndyStar.

Indiana also plans to lean on internal options like Isaiah Jackson, Tony Bradley, and James Wiseman, per beIN SPORTS. Jackson, a 2021 first-round pick, is recovering from his own Achilles injury but showed promise in 2023-24 (6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks in 13.1 minutes). Bradley, a journeyman, offers size but limited upside, averaging 1.9 points in 2024-25. Wiseman, the No. 2 pick in 2020, remains a reclamation project, with career averages of 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds but inconsistent defense, per ESPN. FanSided noted, “The Pacers’ center rotation is a mix of potential and uncertainty,” highlighting the gamble of relying on unproven talent.

The free-agent market, as of September 2025, offers few viable options, with players like Daniel Theis and Thomas Bryant available but not game-changers, per HoopsHype. Trade targets are scarce, with CBS Sports reporting that Indiana’s limited assets—after flipping the 2023 first-round pick from the Aaron Nesmith trade—restrict blockbuster moves. This patchwork approach leaves the Pacers vulnerable, as Sporting News warned: “There are not many reasons for fans to feel great about the team’s center situation”.

Turner’s Flaws and the Pacers’ Dilemma

Turner was not without flaws, which complicated Indiana’s decision to let him go. His rebounding, averaging 6.9 rebounds per game in 2024-25, was subpar for a center, often leaving the Pacers exposed on the glass, per 8points9seconds.com. His offense relied heavily on three-point shooting, and when his shot wasn’t falling (34.9% from three in the 2025 playoffs), his impact waned. Defensively, while still effective, Turner regressed, with opponents shooting 49.2% at the rim against him, per NBA.com. Re-signing him would have pushed Indiana into the luxury tax, a financial burden the franchise, under owner Herb Simon, was unwilling to bear, per Forbes.

Despite these shortcomings, Turner’s pros—rim protection, floor spacing, and playoff experience—made him a unique asset. His departure, as wisportsheroics.com noted, “continues to stun NBA circles,” given his role in Indiana’s Finals run. The Pacers’ inability to match Milwaukee’s $108.9 million offer, per Sports Illustrated, reflects their cautious financial approach but leaves them exposed at a critical position.

The Impact on Indiana’s Season Outlook

The Pacers’ 2025-26 season, starting October 28, 2025, against the Detroit Pistons, per NBA.com, will test their resilience. Without Turner and Haliburton, who suffered his Achilles injury in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, per beIN SPORTS, Indiana’s projected starting lineup features Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Bennedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam, and either Huff or Jackson. This group, while talented, lacks the defensive anchor and spacing Turner provided, with ESPN projecting a 40-42 record and a play-in spot.

The center position’s uncertainty could haunt Indiana in key matchups. Against Milwaukee, Turner’s new team, the Pacers face a November 3, 2025, showdown, per ClutchPoints. Turner’s familiarity with Indiana’s system, combined with his fit alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, makes the Bucks a formidable foe. Other Eastern Conference bigs, like Joel Embiid and Nikola Vucevic, will exploit Indiana’s thin frontcourt, per FanSided. The Pacers’ high-octane offense, led by Siakam (21.7 points in 2024-25) and Nesmith (15.7 playoff points), may struggle without a reliable center to anchor the defense.

Fan and Media Reactions

Turner’s departure and the center crisis have sparked intense reactions. On X, @PacersFan4Life posted, “Losing Myles hurts, but the front office better figure out this center mess quick.” @IndyHoops tweeted, “Huff and Jackson? Good luck against Embiid. This is gonna be a long season.” Media outlets echoed the concern. Sporting News described the center situation as “a major weakness with no clear way to strengthen it”, while IndyStar noted, “The Pacers are still going to have a difficult time replacing Turner.” 8points9seconds.com called Turner’s rationale for leaving “painfully ironic,” given Indiana’s brighter roster outlook compared to Milwaukee’s recent first-round exits.

Attempts to Mitigate the Crisis

The Pacers’ acquisition of Jay Huff is a step toward addressing the void, but his inexperience raises doubts. beIN SPORTS reported that Huff’s 40.2% three-point shooting and shot-blocking mimic Turner’s skill set, but his 11.9 minutes per game in 2024-25 suggest a steep learning curve. Jackson, if healthy, could provide energy, but his injury history—missing 23 games in 2024-25—adds risk, per ESPN. Wiseman, with a career 52.3% field-goal percentage, offers scoring but struggles defensively, per NBA.com. Coach Rick Carlisle, known for creative lineups, may experiment with small-ball units featuring Siakam at center, but this risks exposing Indiana’s rebounding weaknesses, per FanSided.

The trade market offers limited options. Players like Clint Capela or Wendell Carter Jr. could help, but Indiana’s lack of high-value assets post-Nesmith trade limits their leverage, per HoopsHype. Free agents like Theis, a former Pacer, are available but lack Turner’s upside, per CBS Sports. The Pacers may rely on mid-season trades or the 2026 draft to address the position long-term, but for now, the center rotation remains a glaring question mark.

Broader Implications for the Franchise

The center crisis threatens Indiana’s immediate contention hopes. Their 47-35 record and Eastern Conference Finals run in 2024-25 showcased a young, dynamic core, but Turner’s exit and Haliburton’s injury reset expectations, per JaguarsWire. The Pacers’ financial restraint, avoiding the luxury tax, preserves flexibility for 2026, when Haliburton returns and contracts like Siakam’s ($189 million over four years) remain manageable, per Spotrac. However, a regression to the play-in or lottery could frustrate fans and players like Nesmith, who signed a three-year, $33 million extension in 2023, per Sportskeeda.

Long-term, the Pacers must find a center who complements their up-tempo style. Huff’s potential, Jackson’s athleticism, or Wiseman’s upside could yield a solution, but none are guaranteed, per IndyStar. The 2026 free-agent class, including Nikola Jokic and Rudy Gobert, offers hope, but Indiana’s market size makes landing such stars unlikely, per HoopsHype. Draft prospects like Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper could shift focus to the perimeter, but the center position remains a priority, per 247Sports.

The Emotional Toll on Fans

Turner’s move to a division rival like Milwaukee adds salt to the wound. His comments during a Summer League broadcast, reported by Sports Illustrated, took a jab at Pacers fans: “Even my time there, there was a lot of people that wanted me off the team and they got what they wanted and now they’re complaining still”. This sparked backlash on X, with @PacersPride tweeting, “Myles really said that? Ungrateful after 10 years.” The November 3, 2025, matchup against the Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse will be emotionally charged, per ClutchPoints.

Conclusion

The Indiana Pacers’ center situation, left in disarray by Myles Turner’s departure to the Milwaukee Bucks, is the franchise’s biggest question mark for the 2025-26 season. Turner’s rim protection and floor spacing, despite flaws like poor rebounding, were critical to Indiana’s 2024-25 Finals run, and his exit leaves a void that Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, and James Wiseman are ill-equipped to fill, per beIN SPORTS. With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined, the Pacers face a challenging season, projected at 40-42 wins, per ESPN. The center crisis, as Sporting News noted, “will haunt the franchise all season,” testing coach Rick Carlisle’s creativity and the front office’s strategy. While financial restraint preserves future flexibility, the immediate outlook is bleak, with fans and analysts lamenting a missed opportunity to retain Turner. As Indiana navigates this turbulent season, the search for a reliable center remains a pressing challenge that could define their trajectory.