NBA Rumors: Indiana Pacers Interested In Free Agent Kevin Seraphin


The Indiana Pacers have a few open training camp spots remaining, and could still use some depth in their frontcourt. One option is NBA veteran free agent Kevin Seraphin.

NBC Sports is reporting that Seraphin has been working out with the Pacers. The sixth-year vet appeared in 48 games with the New York Knicks last season, averaging 3.9 points and 2.6 rebounds over 11.0 minutes of action. He shot 41.0 percent from the floor and almost blocked a shot a game (0.8).

Seraphin is a highly-skilled big man with excellent mobility. The 6-foot-10 power forward is a very good finisher at the rim and has developed a decent mid-range jumper. However, he has turned into a back hole after receiving the ball in the post.

Last year, Seraphin ranked last among all power forwards in offensive real plus-minus ratings, per ESPN, with a negative-3.79. He also had a minus -0.8 offensive wins share and a negative -5.9 offensive plus-minus box score rating according to Basketball-Reference‘s advance stats.

Defensively, the 26-year-old Frenchman is a solid rim protector and above-average rebounder. He ranked No. 21 among power forwards in defensive real-plus rating (1.56) and had a plus-1.5 defensive box score rating in 2015-16.

Seraphin was drafted with the No. 17 overall pick of the 2010 draft by the Chicago Bulls. Seraphin was dealt to the Washington Wizards in a draft day deal for Kirk Hinrich. He spent five seasons with the Wizards before playing for the Knicks a year ago. For his career, Seraphin averages 6.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 48.3 percent from the floor.

So, how does he fit with the Pacers?

Indiana currently has 17 players under contract with 15 players holding guaranteed deals – recently signed Alex Poythress and Julyan Stone are the players with non-guaranteed pacts. Stone is a six-foot-six guard with some NBA experience.

The Pacers retooled their frontcourt by signing Al Jefferson and trading for Thaddeus Young along with Jeremy Evans this summer. Jordan Hill, Ian Mahinmi, and Solomon Hill left the team via free agency.

Jefferson and Young are projected to start this year at center and power forward. Myles Turner, a budding star, could force either one of the two veterans to a reserve role though he was better coming off the bench last season. The six-foot-11, 20-year-old started 30 of the 60 games he appeared in 2015-16, compiling 11.5 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. In the 30 games he came off the bench, he put up 9.2 points and 4.4 caroms a game in 10 minutes of less playing time than he averaged as a starter.

Allen is cemented as the team’s fourth big man as he is a high-volume offensive rebounder, physical defender, and above-average rim protector. The 27-year-old averaged 5.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 20.2 minutes of action last year.

After Allen, there are questions surrounding the three players currently in line to see time in the team’s frontcourt. Evans, Rakeem Christmas, and Poythress are the other bigs in camp. Paul George and Glenn Robinson III also have the ability to play power forward.

Evans came to Indiana along with over $3 million in cash from the Dallas Mavericks for the rights to Stanko Barac. The 28-year-old is very versatile and is an athletic, defensive oriented player though he struggles against bigger, stronger post players. He is a capable scorer in the paint, but that is about it offensively. Evans averaged 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in limited minutes over 30 games for the Mavs in 2015-16.

Christmas came over to Indiana before the start of the 2015-16 campaign. He was selected in the second round of the 2015 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers out of Syracuse. The 24-year-old, six-foot-nine power forward spent most of the last season in the D-League though he did appear in one game for the Pacers. In 48 games with the Fort Wane Mad Ants, Christmas produced 13.9 points and 7.1 rebounds along with 1.7 blocks a game.

Poythress is expected to spend most of the upcoming season with the Mad Ants. The six-foot-eight forward went undrafted out of Kentucky this past year, averaging 10.6 points and 6.0 caroms for the Wildcats. He played with the Orlando Magic Summer League team this offseason, tallying 5.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.6 minutes over five contests. His best summer league game came against Dallas (July 7) where he had 10 points, on 4-of-6 shooting, in just eight minutes of action.

Both Christmas and Evans are making a little over a million dollars this year, so if the Pacers decide to cut ties with either player, it won’t be too much of a salary cap strain. Indiana is currently around $5 million or so under the salary cap.

If Seraphin is unable to land with Indiana or any other NBA team, he does have options. He reportedly is garnering attention from teams in the Chinese Basketball League and Europe, like FC Barcelona.

[Photo by David Zalubowski/AP Photo]

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