Report: Pacers among teams rumored to have interest in Carl Landry

After having reached agreement with free agent center Kevin Seraphin on a two-year, $3.6 million deal, the Indiana Pacers are rumored to be among the teams interested in Carl Landry, reports Darren Wolfson of Minneapolis-based KSTP.

Landry, who averaged a highly efficient 9.8 points and 4.1 rebounds on 55 percent shooting in only 15.8 minutes per game last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, was waived by Bryan Colangelo on Thursday presumably to thin the team’s crowded frontcourt in order to free up playing time for younger talent.

If brought on to backup Thaddeus Young at the four next season, the 6-foot-9 power forward’s reliability as a pick-and-pop shooter would, arguably, fit more cleanly beside Al Jefferson’s post-heavy game than any of the other seasoned reserve options currently on Indiana’s roster.

Rather than stationing someone on the opposing low block, Landry’s overall 47 percent conversion rate from mid-range could help create space for Big Al to operate in the paint while providing Aaron Brooks with an additional option as the second unit’s primary pick-and-roll ball-handler.

Landry, as a nine-year veteran, is more experienced than Georges Niang or Jeremy Evans, and he (14.0%) grabbed nearly the same percentage of his team’s total available rebounds while he was on the floor as Lavoy Allen (14.5%) did with the Pacers last season.

Assuming the Pacers actually have unique interest in Landry in addition to Kevin Seraphin, it is possible that whatever move(s) the team ends up making to clear a roster spot for the latter could explain the feelers they’ve allegedly put out there with regard to the former, despite already having four power forwards on the roster and 16 guaranteed contracts.

Once Landry clears waivers, he will become an unrestricted free agent and is expected to sign for the veteran minimum. The Rockets, Spurs, and Lakers are also rumored to be interested in the 32-year-old.