Veteran center Alex Len will not be joining the Indiana Pacers, according to league sources cited by Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star.
Len was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Washington Wizards at the deadline. The Wizards waived him on Saturday, with initial reports suggesting he would sign with Indiana after clearing waivers. However, Dopirak now reports that the deal is off, as the Pacers have shifted their focus to another former lottery pick, Jahlil Okafor.
While specific reasons for the change remain unclear, Dopirak notes recent league-wide movement at the center position may have impacted Alex Len’s decision. He highlights the Lakers rescinding their trade for Mark Williams, which left an opening at center for a team likely headed to the playoffs.
Additionally, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported on Monday that the Lakers had interest in Alex Len if he had not committed to the Pacers. Although no agreement has been reached with Los Angeles, they remain a potential landing spot for the veteran big man.
Len, the fifth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, has played 12 seasons with the Suns, Hawks, Raptors, Wizards, and Kings. The 31-year-old Ukrainian has served as a depth piece in Sacramento in recent years, making 149 appearances (15 starts) over three-and-a-half seasons. He averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per game during his time with the Kings.
