What does it mean when a team makes a move… and barely says a word? No emojis or extravagant captions. Just a quiet Instagram repost from Pacers assistant coach Jenny Boucek, and yet, it spoke volumes. Because while the league was still recovering from the aftershocks of Myles Turner landing in Milwaukee, Indiana was already plugging the gap. Jay Huff is officially a Pacer, and Indiana just quietly replaced a 6’11-footer with…a 7’1-footer. And well, why not?

If you blinked, you missed it. But blink again, and you’ll realize that Huff’s acquisition came immediately after Turner’s exit — a subtle move with significant implications. Huff isn’t some throw-in or summer filler. He’s long, he’s mobile, and most importantly, he’s cheap. Which might be the most valuable trait in a post-Turner Indiana era. The repost from Boucek?

That’s not just a social media nod. She’s a defensive architect who helped shape Indiana into a top-13 defense this year. You think she’s reposting random guys? No. Huff is the kind of project Boucek can mold… think weakside blocks, drop coverage IQ, and a three-ball that’s quietly serviceable. And Huff has been quietly brewing too, from G League reps to bench rotations in Memphis, the big man’s development arc was never about flash. It was about finding the right system. And the Pacers might be it. So what does this mean for Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers’ core?

The vibes shifted the second Haliburton went down in the Finals. Suddenly, Indiana didn’t look like a group on the brink of a championship run. They looked like a team desperately trying to hang on. And maybe, just maybe, that changed everything. Because keeping Turner would’ve meant diving into the luxury tax for the first time in 25 years. Two and a half decades of avoiding that cliff, and now they’d have to jump without their star healthy? Didn’t feel worth it. And what about the numbers, you wonder?

Myles Turner signed a four-year, $107 million deal with the Bucks, averaging around $25 million per year, a figure the Pacers reportedly weren’t willing to match. Their internal ceiling hovered closer to $22 million annually, and without Haliburton healthy, committing long-term money didn’t make sense. Jay Huff, on the other hand, arrives on a far more flexible deal: $2.1 million for 2024–25, escalating slightly to $2.35 million in 2025–26, $2.68 million in 2026–27, and a team option worth $3 million in 2027–28. And yes, letting Turner go hurts, no doubt.

He was the longest-tenured player on the roster, the defensive anchor, and one of the few shot-blocking, floor-spacing players in the league. But when Milwaukee came calling, Indiana pivoted fast. Turner’s contract might’ve pulled Indiana into the luxury tax for the first time in 25 years. Huff’s? It keeps the Pacers nimble, experimental, and ready for whatever comes next, and yes, keep the books clean while Haliburton works his way back. But Jay Huff isn’t Turner. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

From Myles to miles cheaper

Turner averaged 15.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks this season while shooting 49.9% from three. That’s elite two-way production. Huff? Averaged 6.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks last season while shooting 40.5% from three. But here’s what makes him intriguing: in the G League, Huff averaged 21.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in the 2024-25 regular season. Now that’s not nothing. The Pacers know they’re not trying to replace Turner stat-for-stat.

And if we’re talking about new additions and how they can make a difference under Boucek, who better to shed light on that impact than Pascal Siakam? The former champion joined the Pacers in 2024 and made an immediate difference. During the NBA Finals, he didn’t hold back in praising assistant coach Jenny Boucek: “Jenny’s been awesome,” Siakam said. “She gives me super great insights on what we want to do. She’s always bringing that positivity, which is needed for coaching.” With Boucek’s presence on the sidelines and the addition of Jay Huff to the roster, Indiana will be hoping to channel that same energy and insight into another deep postseason run.

They’re reimagining their core. And doing it with an eye toward financial flexibility. Huff’s current contract offers just that. Meanwhile, Jenny Boucek, who’s developed and helped coordinate elite defenses at both the WNBA and NBA levels, can help squeeze every drop of potential from Huff’s 7-foot-1 frame. The Pacers’ defense took a noticeable leap under her watch last year, especially in the playoffs in key moments. If Huff can follow suit, the Pacers might have found the rarest of gems as a rotation-ready big who won’t clog the books or the paint.

As for the Bucks? They get an All-Defense candidate in Turner, who now forms a terrifying interior pairing with Giannis. But they paid a premium. Indiana? They made a quieter move. One that doesn’t cost them cap space, but might just keep them competitive while they wait for Haliburton to return to full strength. And who knows? Maybe Huff is the next great Pacers development story. No captions necessary. Just moves, loud ones made quietly.