will be competition<\/a> for the starting spot, but Jackson could certainly earn it. Even if he doesn\u2019t, he\u2019s thrilled about his return to Indiana.<\/p>\n\u201cIt meant a lot. I love the organization, I love the team camaraderie we\u2019ve got as a collective,\u201d Jackson said of inking a new deal to return to the Pacers. \u201cJust the guys from last year. Just being able to watch the playoff run and being there to experience that. [It\u2019s] something that I wanted to do, to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s way from another team. About a week and a half into free agency, the two sides agreed on a deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told (Pacers general manager) Chad [Buchanan] and [Pritchard], I wouldn\u2019t want it any other way,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cI wanted to be here from the beginning. I want to stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indiana Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson (22) scores as Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo\/John Bazemore)<\/p>\n
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved <\/p>\n
Jackson\u2019s 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\u2019s health situation better than any other team. Should the Michigan native continue to improve, or even stagnate, it\u2019s a fair contract.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s 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 \u2013 can he be just as impactful in the same ways he was before? Or will other refinements have to come to his skill set?<\/p>\n
He \u2013 along with Pacers center James Wiseman, who also tore his Achilles last season \u2013 has been working with assistant coach Jim Boylen during recovery. \u201cI just love how hard he\u2019s worked through this whole rehab,\u201d Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Jackson. \u201cHe\u2019s kept a very upbeat attitude\u2026 So the hope is that they\u2019ll be ready [for training camp]. It certainly looks like they (including Wiseman) will be.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pacers have Jackson, Wiseman, Jay Huff, and Tony Bradley under contract as centers right now. It\u2019s enough depth to survive if Jackson or Wiseman aren\u2019t ready for nightly play to begin the season. They have plenty of cover to get by if one or both of them isn\u2019t effective. But Jackson believes he\u2019s set to go for the 2025-26 campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going along real well. I think I\u2019m probably like 80 to 90% to being back,” he said of his rehab in mid July. “I should be back by training camp. That\u2019s the plan. That\u2019s what we\u2019re on the trajectory of right now. So [I\u2019m] just looking forward to being back with these guys and playing again.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The young big man didn\u2019t receive a contract extension<\/a> 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\u2019s ever known. Both sides were hoping for a reunion and got it done.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 01: Isaiah Jackson #22 of the Indiana Pacers stands on the court during…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":41795,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[434],"tags":[49,48,2697,18730,459,6684,8842,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-41794","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-indiana-pacers","11":"tag-isaiah-jackson","12":"tag-nba","13":"tag-nba-free-agency","14":"tag-pacers","15":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41794\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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