The Pacers waived center Kevin Seraphin on Monday, a league source confirmed to VigilantSports.com.
The transaction had to be completed by August 1, the trigger date for Seraphin’s contract. Otherwise, his salary, worth $1.9 million, would have become guaranteed for the 2017-18 season.
Former president (now team advisor) Larry Bird signed Seraphin to a contract last summer. The 6-foot-10 big man appeared in 49 games, and averaged 4.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.
Shams Charnia of The Vertical first reported the move.
Earlier this month, I asked Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard about Seraphin’s status.
“We have a lot of bigs, so we’re still evaluating him,” Pritchard said.
Seraphin was not expecting to be waived, according a source close to him.
Pacers bigs under contract: Myles Turner, Al Jefferson, Thad Young, Domantas Sabonis, plus rookies T.J. Leaf and Ike Anigbogu.
It will be interesting to see if/how this impacts Seraphin playing on the French National Team. Without an NBA contract (or at least insurance), it may not be wise for him to compete in EuroBasket, which begins in August.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXNo4pQg9gH/
[Kevin Seraphin embraces social media]
Seraphin’s contract was the last of six decisions the Pacers had to make during the offseason.
They kept Glenn Robinson III ($1.5M) and Joe Young ($1.5M). They waived Rakeem Christmas, Georges Niang, Seraphin, and Monta Ellis, whose salary will be stretched out over the next five years. And they declined to pick up the $4 million team option on Lavoy Allen, who remains an unrestricted free agent.
Following this move, the Pacers have 13 players under contract for the 2017-18 season and an estimated $7.6 million in cap space. (This does not include veteran Damien Wilkins.) The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement allows for them to carry as many as 15 players, and bring up to 20 guys to training camp.
Seraphin was set to return to wearing No. 13 with the Pacers after Paul George was dealt. But that will have to happen elsewhere. He actually changed his number twice this summer, and it ultimately didn’t matter.
[Photo: @kslife7]
Sure would have rather dumped Jefferson. 🙁