JULY 27TH, 2:17pm: The signing is official, the Pacers announced.
“We think he’s ready to step in and play more minutes at two different positions,” said Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird. “This is a great opportunity for him to play night in and night out at a high level.”
9:22pm: Allen’s deal will be worth a total of approximately $12MM, Spears tweets.
JULY 2ND, 7:12pm: The Pacers and free agent Lavoy Allen have reached an agreement on a multiyear deal, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports (Twitter link). The pact is for three years, and includes a team option for the final season, Jessica Camerato of Basketball Insiders relays (on Twitter). The Clippers were also reportedly interested in the 26-year-old’s services.
In 63 appearances for Indiana last season, Allen averaged 5.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, with a slash line of .472/.000/.702. His career numbers are 5.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 1.0 APG. His career shooting numbers are .459/.143/.702.
Allen was the 50th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The 6’9″ forward began his career with the Sixers before being included in the deal that brought Evan Turner to the Pacers.
Can a team that wants to play more small-ball afford two backup centers making $4MM a year? That’s Ian Mahinmi’s salary, too.
Lavoy Allen isn’t a center , he can play center but his natural position is power forward with David west gone Allen is much needed , I think they should give him a shot at starting power forward , and mahinmi is under 7 foot and pretty light on his feet for a center , I can see them playing ian more than hilbert when playing small
Starting 5:
Paul George ,George hill , monta E, Lavoy Allen , Roy hilbert ( if not traded) if traded Ian mahinmi
Lavoy can play and He should be the starting four. PG13 doesn’t want to play heavy minutes at the four and they shouldn’t force him to right away. Pacers should dip their toe in the small-ball-water instead of cannon-balling in.