The Pacers and restricted free agent heart Isaiah Jackson have reached an settlement on a brand new three-year contract price $21MM, brokers Drew Morrison and Sam Rose inform Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter hyperlink).
The twenty second total decide within the 2021 draft, Jackson performed a modest function by his first 4 seasons in Indiana, averaging 7.2 factors, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 15.0 minutes per sport throughout 163 appearances (31 begins). He missed practically all the 2024/25 season as a result of a proper Achilles tear that he suffered within the sixth sport of the season.
James Wiseman, who sustained a torn Achilles of his personal within the Pacers’ common season opener final October, appeared to have moved forward of Jackson on the middle depth chart getting into the season. On condition that context and the truth that Jackson is now coming off a serious damage, it was considerably stunning that the 23-year-old obtained a $6.4MM qualifying provide from Indiana final month to make him a restricted free agent.
That qualifying provide and this new three-year settlement are sturdy alerts that the Pacers nonetheless imagine in Jackson’s potential and be ok with the place he’s at in his restoration from Achilles surgical procedure.
The QO additionally makes extra sense on reflection understanding that Myles Turner‘s return to Indiana wasn’t the digital lock that it gave the impression to be getting into the free agent interval. With Turner now in Milwaukee, Jackson could have a chance this fall to compete for minutes at heart with Jay Huff, Tony Bradley, and Wiseman, who has returned to the Pacers on a brand new deal of his personal.
Jackson’s new deal will give the Pacers 15 gamers on commonplace contracts for 2025/26, although Wiseman solely has a partial assure and Bradley’s 2025/26 wage is non-guaranteed, so it’s attainable these two huge males will probably be battling for a single roster spot.
