The Indiana Pacers are now down to three healthy options at center, but it still hardly feels like the team has found an answer there just yet. But they may have found a fourth option that deserves a greater look.

I want to tell you I have some BIG thoughts on this, but much like things with the Pacers right now, everything is a bit of a mess.

When we’re talking centers, that means Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman, Tony Bradley, the injured Obi Toppin, and I’d argue Jarace Walker. There had been lineups with two of them in, but in these limited sample sizes, it makes more sense to call Walker an option at center when he’s been in the most used small-ball lineup without a traditional center, closed the Mavericks game with no center and no Toppin, and the Pacers have rarely closed with one of their traditional centers through their first four games—the one exception coming in the Wolves game where Toppin got injured.

Bradley, Huff, Toppin, and Walker have ultimately played the most minutes so far this season, and rightly so. Wiseman was unable to find a way to contribute, often seemed lost on the floor, and was waived to create a roster spot to gain guard help as the team deals with a rash of injuries. Huff has been what he was in Memphis: a backup level center. To Huff’s credit, at least, his 3-point shooting (3 of 12) is down from his career 40% average from deep, so his shooting production is likely to improve. At least he’s dunking the ball, but going against type he has no reverse dunks yet.

But back to Bradley, Jackson, and Walker, and them being exactly what one might expect.

Bradley offers a high-floor, steadying presence. His savvy on defense allows the Pacers to stay in games, but his rebounding and scoring aren’t enough to alter the outcome. He’s been solid, the best of the traditional choices, and has earned the roster spot over Wiseman despite being on an unguaranteed contract.

Walker, at 22 years old, represents potential. He’s averaged around 40% from deep in his career, but he is taking more and making fewer of them this year at a dreadful 28.6%. His 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game hint at more all-around contributions, but some of his turnovers and miscues remind you he is 22 years old and still finding his way as a player. Walker’s versatility has been valuable as he’s primarily been used as a wing and even functioned as a point guard at times on offense but when he was drafted the question was whether he would be more of a 5 or a 4.

Jackson also falls into the potential category, as despite this being his fifth NBA season, he is only 23 years old. Though he has been a starter in most games, his minutes are just behind Huff and Bradley. Unfortunately, he is a fouling machine at 10.8 per 36 minutes according to NBA.com and many of his whistles have been fouls you expect a player with his experience to be able to avoid, and that’s why his usage by coach Rick Carlisle remains limited. A work in progress for sure. Coming of an Achilles injury of his own, it’s going to take some time for him to regain his rhythm and his full athleticism, and then look like the productive player he had become in 2023-24 especially in the postseason.

Really, the best options at the moment for the most crucial minutes, are Bradley and Walker. Huff and Bradley played significant minutes, but it’s mostly been lineups with Toppin or Walker that have closed out the game.

Despite Toppin being out, the Pacers closed their last contest with Walker and Pascal Siakam as the bigs for the final 2 minutes of the game against the Mavericks. That happened because Walker posted a 20-point, 6-rebound, 5-assist stat line. The shooting was a bit of a mixed bag as he was a nightmarish 1 for 9 from inside the arc, 4 of 10 from deep, and a solid 6 of 7 from the foul line. The Pacers were +4 in those final minutes as they nearly came up with a miracle win on an intentional missed free throw that was deflected by Siakam directly to an open Aaron Nesmith at the buzzer.

Walker’s assists weren’t empty stats, though all were to his fellow bigs who were playing center at the time. He got two by driving the ball to the basket and forcing the Mavericks’ defense to collapse on him, another two with over-the-top passes to Huff and Jackson, and a final one by seeing a trailing Huff at the top of the arc.

The minutes down the stretch were his alone, though, and he played some of his best basketball as he was 3 of 6 (with a pair of 3-pointers) and pickpocketed Dallas three times. It would be interesting to see how his playmaking could be used on the short roll if he’s playing more often as a big in the Pacers random offensive system.

Indiana fell just one shot short of a comeback win, but it appears that coach Carlisle’s trust is in having Walker on the floor when it matters most. He can take a little pressure off Pascal Siakam, though Dallas showed that until a real second option emerges, doubling the Cameroonian All-Star is the way to win games.

Everything is Small Sample-Size Theater right now, but it’s two to one in competitive games that Indiana has elected to play Walker down the stretch. Excuse the sorting method there on NBA.com, but Walker or Toppin have by far played the most ‘clutch’ time so far among all the options at 5.

Until something truly settles, it is worth paying more attention to who plays when and why, not who starts the game or even plays the most minutes. Testing Walker’s versatility in new ways may find an exciting possibility to fill the Pacers needs at center.