Though their record (15-40) may not prove it, the Tyrese Haliburton-less Indiana Pacers have been a scrappy and competitive squad. Pascal Siakam is arguably playing even better than he did last season, when he was named an All-Star. Andrew Nembhard hasn’t quite filled Haliburton’s shoes but he’s doing a heck of a job in his attempt. Jay Huff will inevitably be dethroned by Ivica Zubac but he made Myles Turner‘s departure easier to stomach.
Pacers GM Chad Buchanan Reveals Which Player They’re Most Likely To Promote
Unfortunately, when the Pacers acquired Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers, they were forced to trade Bennedict Mathurin. Understandably, the Haitian-Canadian’s scoring numbers (he’s averaging a career-high 17.4 points per game in 2025-26) and skillset are what most people focus on. Yet, his stats and tools belie intangibles that have been just as important: toughness, confidence, competitiveness.
Keeping that in mind, Indiana was able to open a roster spot in the Zubac trade. That slot could be left open, helping the Pacers save money in a season they probably won’t be going to the playoffs. Conversely, they can also peruse the buyout market, getting the jump on a player whose abilities will matter more when Haliburton returns.
Or, they could promote a player from their two-way roster, filling the open spot internally. In fact, that’s “definitely a real possibility,” as Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan tells Forbes reporter Tony East. Speaking on the impact that Quenton Jackson has had this season, Buchanan says:
“Quenton’s been awesome. He was fantastic last night, and he’s a big part of our culture in our locker room. He’s got such a good energy to him. He’s got a toughness about him, never complains about anything.”
Will The Pacers Give Quenton Jackson A Standard Contract?
At the time of Buchanan’s interview, Jackson had just stuffed the stat sheet in a win over the New York Knicks.
He scored 19 points on 5-7 shooting from the field (4-6 from 3) and got to the free-throne line six times. An auxiliary playmaker, he doled out three assists. Despite being a lean 6-foot-4, he pulled down six rebounds. Defensively, he amassed one steal and one block. Numbers aside, the guy was just performing at a high level. He was hustling, making sound decisions, and using his physical tools to his advantage.
Feb 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) reacts against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) after his three point shot during overtime at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
On the season, Jackson’s averaging 8.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.7 steals per game. When extrapolated to their per 36 minute counterparts, those numbers jump to 18.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Far from a chucker, he’s made 48.0% of his field goal attempts, including 40.7% of his 3s.
“Two-way guys, your life is a lot of unpredictability of where you’re going to be from day to day,” Buchanan says. “…(Jackson) approaches it with such a great attitude and a great competitive will to him, great competitive spirit. So that’s definitely something we’re considering.”
“We’ve got to be mindful of the tax as we go through things,” he admits, “but there’s a timing and sequence that gives us the possibility to do something there. And I think we’ll look at probably doing that.”