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Where are they now? Checking in on a few recent Indiana Pacers departures

By Ben Gibson

AUBURN HILLS, MI - JANUARY 03: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates after a second half basket with Jeff Teague #44 and Monta Ellis #11 while playing the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on January 3, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Indiana won the game 121-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - JANUARY 03: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates after a second half basket with Jeff Teague #44 and Monta Ellis #11 while playing the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on January 3, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Indiana won the game 121-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Former Indiana Pacers Rodney Stuckey and Monta Ellis
PORTLAND, OR – DECEMBER 3: Rodney Stuckey #2 of the Indiana Pacers and Monta Ellis #11 of the Indiana Pacers talk during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 3, 2015 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The rest of last season’s crew isn’t in the NBA

Lavoy Allen, Monta Ellis, Rodney Stuckey, Kevin Seraphin, Rakeem Christmas, and Georges Niang are out of the NBA right now.

That’s right: Just over a third of the Pacers roster from last season is no longer in the NBA.

The reasons vary as the group is a mix of young and older players. In most cases, it’s a matter of team’s making room for similar, but younger talent.

Ellis’ suspension is part of the reason why no one has signed him. That and the fact his 8.5 points and 3.2 assists a game are easily replaced. There are 39 guards that are averaging at least that according to Basketball-Reference, most of which are under the age of 30.

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There’s a little headache involved in signing a guy who statistically speaking, was only modestly above replacement level. The Pacers chose to pay him his $11.2 million owed over the next five years than keep him around for one more.

Minus the weed, the story is similar for Stuckey. Once you add in the fact Stuckey fought injuries all of last season and was waived, it’s easy to understand why no one’s eager to sign him. On the bright side for Indiana, Godney Stuckey died to Lance Stephenson could be Born Again Ready.

Seraphin served as one of Indiana’s best rebounders, but ultimately his game wasn’t built to keep up with the changes in the NBA. He didn’t have the speed and quick feet to guard smaller players nor the size when facing bigger bigs. He’s playing internationally now. The story is the same for Lavoy Allen.

Christmas and Niang are much younger than the rest but couldn’t stay on an NBA roster. Christmas headed overseas while Niang is a G-Leaguer on a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz.

While there are logical explanations for all of their absences from the NBA, it says something about Larry Bird’s miscalculations when assembling a roster the past few seasons.

Roster turnover is expected, but consider considering over a third from last season are out of the NBA, that’s not a good sign. Go back one more year and you can add Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill, and Ty Lawson to the list of players out of the league now.

Now that we have all of last year’s players out of the way, let’s take a look at a select few former Pacers from the past few seasons.

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