Isaiah Jackson Hoped To Be With Pacers In Free Agency, Signed New Deal

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 01: Isaiah Jackson #22 of the Indiana Pacers stands on the court during an NBA game at Smoothie King Center against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 01, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

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LAS VEGAS – Isaiah Jackson signed a new deal with the Indiana Pacers last month, meaning he will return to the franchise that drafted him for a fifth season. And while Jackson is coming off of a torn Achilles, he and the Pacers are clearly excited about a reunion.

“When I think about Isaiah [Jackson] and what he did in the playoffs – not this year, but the previous year – he had some big moments against New York,” Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said in July. Jackson averaged 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 65.4% across 88 total minutes in that 2024 series win over the Knicks. “And as a player at his age, I think the sky’s the limit for him.”

Jackson, 23, entered last season with high hopes, eager to prove he could guard more positions and fill in well as a full-time backup center. But in just his fifth appearance, he suffered that Achilles tear. It ended his season in early November. He averaged 7.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game before exiting an outing in New Orleans with an injury.

He has been rehabbing in Indianapolis since, so the Pacers know his recovery status well. That’s why they gave him a fully guaranteed, descending contract – though it does come with some injury protections for Indiana.

One day after signing his three-year, $21 million deal with the Pacers, Jackson sat courtside at a summer league battle between his team and the Oklahoma City Thunder. No longer a free agent, he parked in the same row as Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam, two players that Jackson may join in the starting lineup for Indiana should Jackson earn the job. With Myles Turner no longer with the Pacers, the five role in the opening lineup is up for grabs.

Why did Jackson stay with the Pacers in free agency?

There will be competition for the starting spot, but Jackson could certainly earn it. Even if he doesn’t, he’s thrilled about his return to Indiana.

“It meant a lot. I love the organization, I love the team camaraderie we’ve got as a collective,” Jackson said of inking a new deal to return to the Pacers. “Just the guys from last year. Just being able to watch the playoff run and being there to experience that. [It’s] something that I wanted to do, to be a part of.”

Jackson has been working with a heavier ball in practice and is stronger than he was at this time last year. His added size is noticeable. Adding bulk to his pre-existing athleticism is the next step in his physical development.

The 23-year old was a restricted free agent, meaning the blue and gold had the right of first refusal to match any offer that came Jackson’s way from another team. About a week and a half into free agency, the two sides agreed on a deal.

“I told (Pacers general manager) Chad [Buchanan] and [Pritchard], I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Jackson said. “I wanted to be here from the beginning. I want to stay here.”

Jackson’s contract is roughly market value for backup centers, perhaps even on the lower end for one of the better reserve fives in the league. But he was paid a pretty penny for a player returning from a torn Achilles. The descending nature of the deal and the injury protections helps the Pacers, and they know Jackson’s health situation better than any other team. Should the Michigan native continue to improve, or even stagnate, it’s a fair contract.

That’s the next question for Jackson in his career. His best moments were highlighted by freakish athleticism for someone of his height, and his mobility on the perimeter allowed him to guard several positions. In tandem, that made for a valuable frontcourt player. His athleticism and agility will be key factors in his success post injury – can he be just as impactful in the same ways he was before? Or will other refinements have to come to his skill set?

He – along with Pacers center James Wiseman, who also tore his Achilles last season – has been working with assistant coach Jim Boylen during recovery. “I just love how hard he’s worked through this whole rehab,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Jackson. “He’s kept a very upbeat attitude… So the hope is that they’ll be ready [for training camp]. It certainly looks like they (including Wiseman) will be.”

The Pacers have Jackson, Wiseman, Jay Huff, and Tony Bradley under contract as centers right now. It’s enough depth to survive if Jackson or Wiseman aren’t ready for nightly play to begin the season. They have plenty of cover to get by if one or both of them isn’t effective. But Jackson believes he’s set to go for the 2025-26 campaign.

“It’s going along real well. I think I’m probably like 80 to 90% to being back,” he said of his rehab in mid July. “I should be back by training camp. That’s the plan. That’s what we’re on the trajectory of right now. So [I’m] just looking forward to being back with these guys and playing again.”

Recovery from an Achilles tear comes with a better outlook now than it used to. Jackson might, especially at a young age, be ready to keep progressing on the same trajectory he was previously on come opening night. The Pacers are paying him like they believe that is a reasonable outcome, and Jackson seems optimistic about his outlook with the team.

The young big man didn’t receive a contract extension last offseason, and the Pacers finances were a key factor at the time. Now, with more financial wiggle room available, Jackson is back with the only franchise he’s ever known. Both sides were hoping for a reunion and got it done.