Indiana already had a full roster of 15 players with guaranteed contracts.
However, after working him out, the Pacers decided they couldn’t pass on adding the depth of Kevin Seraphin to their front line. So they inked him to a two-year deal (team option the second), reports The Vertical’s Shams Charania.
Free agent Kevin Seraphin has agreed on a two-year deal with the Indiana Pacers, with first season guaranteed, sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 2, 2016
Kevin Seraphin's two-year, $3.6M deal with Indiana includes a team option in the second year, sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 2, 2016
Seraphin is an undersized center at 6'9" who was solid but unspectacular as a member of the Wizards the first five seasons he was in the league. He has no shooting range, but he can pass, is tough, and is someone teams can trust for 15 minutes a night. At least he was until last season in New York. Seraphin had his worst NBA season as a Knick, shooting 41 percent overall and he suddenly struggled to finish at the rim (he shot just 53.7 percent inside the restricted area). Seraphin is also a physical man defender inside who can step out a little on the perimeter and be effective.
The Pacers already have a full roster so they need to trade one of their guaranteed contracts, or they need to cut someone — maybe Jeremy Evans or maybe Rakeem Christmas. But someone making north of $1 million is going to get paid not to play.
Seraphin is not going to get a lot of run in Indy, he’s an insurance policy. The Pacers will start Myles Turner at the five and bring Al Jefferson off the bench behind him. Seraphin will get the minutes that are left.