The Indiana Pacers are making moves to beef up their frontcourt, with veteran center Alex Len expected to join the team once he clears waivers from the Washington Wizards, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Saturday.
It’s been a whirlwind week for the 7-foot center. The Wizards just picked up Len as part of a three-team deal that sent Marcus Smart from Memphis to Washington.
Len’s numbers with the Sacramento Kings this season haven’t been eye-catching. In 36 games, including three starts, he’s averaged just 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in about 7 minutes per game.
The 31-year-old big man has had quite a journey since being picked fifth overall by the Phoenix Suns in 2013. After five years in the desert, he bounced around between Atlanta, Toronto, and Washington before landing in Sacramento.
Over his 12-year NBA career, Len’s put up solid backup center numbers: 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
The timing couldn’t be better for Indiana. Their starting center, Myles Turner, is dealing with a neck strain he picked up during Thursday’s win over the Clippers. He’s listed as day-to-day.
The Pacers’ center position has been hit hard by injuries this season. They’ve already lost:
– Isaiah Jackson (Achilles injury in November)
– James Wiseman (torn Achilles in October, later traded to Toronto)
Indiana’s sitting pretty in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 29-21 record. But they clearly need help up front if they want to make a serious playoff push.
Thomas Bryant is currently the only healthy center on the roster. Adding Len gives them some much-needed insurance and experience in the paint.
For a team with championship aspirations, having reliable big men is crucial. Len might not be a superstar, but he’s exactly the kind of veteran presence the Pacers need right now.
