Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff enters his second season with the team after a career defined by movement. After going undrafted in 2021, he bounced between four teams on four consecutive two-way contracts before earning his first standard deal with Memphis in 2024-25. By hitting a minutes threshold last season, his 2027-28 team option became fully guaranteed, and he will be on the same roster on opening night for the first time in consecutive years.
For a player whose offseasons used to be defined by uncertainty, this one is defined by the absence of it.
At a Glance
- Went undrafted in 2021; waived by Lakers four months later
- Four two-way contracts in four seasons (Lakers, Wizards, Nuggets, Grizzlies)
- First standard contract came with Memphis in 2024-25
- Traded to Pacers in 2025 offseason
- 2027-28 team option fully guaranteed after hitting minutes threshold
- Played all 82 games in 2025-26, averaging 9.5 points and 4.0 rebounds
- Three-point shooting dropped from over 40% to 31.9%
Why This Offseason Is Different
Huff spent most of the summer in Indianapolis, trained at the NBPA's Sanctuary facility in Spain, and worked out in Los Angeles with about ten Pacer teammates. For the first time, the work was the work.
The other major difference is Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton missed all of 2025-26 with an injury. Huff has not yet built meaningful on-court chemistry with him. Practicing together, learning each other's tendencies—that is the kind of development that requires time and roster stability.
What Huff Still Needs to Prove
The numbers last season were uneven. His points and rebounds per minute were his second-fewest. His three-point percentage dropped from above 40% to 31.9%. Those are real concerns for a player whose shooting is a meaningful part of his value.
The positives were real too. His passing improved, which is critical in Indiana's system. His shot-blocking numbers were among the league leaders, trailing only Victor Wembanyama. That is a real defensive contribution.
Our Analysis
The structural lesson from Huff's career is how precarious role-player careers are. The gap between "lightly guaranteed" and "fully guaranteed" can be the difference between a summer of training and a summer of job hunting. Four two-way deals across four teams is not unusual for undrafted bigs. The fact that Huff reached a standard, fully guaranteed contract at all is the exception.
The leadership parallel is sharp. People who finally reach stability do not waste it. They have seen what instability costs. Huff's response—training hard, building chemistry, embracing the team—is exactly the response you want from someone who earned the right to be there.
The Pacers' bet is that the chemistry and shooting bounce back in year two. The minutes-threshold structure of his contract means the team has flexibility if it does not. That is a sensible middle ground between guaranteed money and a one-year audition.
Bottom Line
Huff's story is less about athletic talent than about what stability lets you do with it. Year two is where the discipline of the offseason shows up.
What to Watch Next
- Huff's bounce-back in three-point percentage and per-minute production
- The Haliburton-Huff on-court chemistry in real games
- Whether Huff's minutes role expands or contracts given the Pacers' depth
Key takeaways
- Stability is a competitive advantage for people who have lived without it.
- Four two-way contracts across four teams is the norm for undrafted role players; Huff reached standard-contract stability late.
- Year two is when offseason discipline shows up in regular-season performance.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Jay Huff?
A 28-year-old center entering his second season with the Indiana Pacers and his sixth NBA season overall.
Why is this offseason different?
His 2027-28 team option became fully guaranteed after he hit a minutes threshold, removing the contractual uncertainty that defined his prior years.
How did he get to Indiana?
He signed a multi-year standard contract with Memphis in 2024-25, then was traded to the Pacers in the 2025 offseason for a second-round pick and a pick swap.
What does he still need to prove?
A bounce-back in three-point shooting after his percentage dipped to 31.9% from over 40% the prior year.
What is the leadership parallel?
People who finally earn stability tend not to waste it. The Pacers are betting the same is true for Huff.
Source: forbes.com