Indiana Pacers Add To Training Camp Roster By Signing Deividas Sirvydis

The Indiana Pacers continue to add to their training camp roster, most recently by signing Lithuanian forward Deividas Sirvydis.

The team announced the signing of Sirvydis on Thursday. The 22-year old forward spent the first two seasons of his career with the Detroit Pistons where he played in 23 games.

During his time in the Motor City, Sirvydis averaged 1.9 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. General struggles prevented the 2019 draft pick from playing more often, though he has delivered a few solid performances — including a 16 point outing against Denver on May 14, 2021.

The former 37th overall pick has shown an ability to shoot the ball well from beyond the arc in various situations. In Detroit, he shot 35.7% from deep in his rookie campaign, and during summer league play for the New Orleans Pelicans in July, Sirvydis shot 41.8% from long range. He averaged 15.5 points per game during a strong showing in the exhibitions for the Pelicans.

The contract Deividas Sirvydis signed reportedly contains an Exhibit 10 clause, accoridng to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. That means Sirvydis will receive a bonus if he is cut by the Pacers during training camp and then reports to their G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and spends 60 days with the G League squad this season. Sirvydis’ G League rights were traded to Fort Wayne earlier this month.

Contracts that contain an Exhibit 10 clause must be a one-year deal for a player’s minimum salary. Thus, Deividas Sirvydis’ contract is worth just over $1.8 million in value for the coming season. That amount is non-guaranteed, per Urbonas, so Sirvydis will only receive that amount of salary if he stays with the blue and gold past the league wide salary guarantee date on January 10, 2023.

Additionally, Exhibit 10 deals can be converted to a Two-Way contract. The Pacers have not currently signed anyone to a two-way deal, so the Lithuanian wing may have the opportunity to fight for a two-way spot with Indiana, but it will depend on how the remainder of the team’s offseason goes.

Even beyond a two-way deal, Indiana still has an open roster spot. Should Sirvydis impress throughout training camp, he could earn a place on the Pacers’ roster, though he will have plenty of competition for that spot between draft picks and other Exhibit 10 contract recipients. The other reported players on Exhibit 10 deals for Indiana are Fanbo Zeng, Eli Brooks, Jermaine Samuels, and Tevin Brown— though none have been officially signed yet.

Indiana’s roster now stands at 15 players. The offseason maximum is 20. The Pacers are well below the NBA salary floor, so they may have to make a big move at some point between now and the trade deadline next February.

Sirvydis adds to the Pacers long list of younger players. Of the 15 players signed by Indiana right now, 11 of them are 25 years old or younger. The team in the Circle City is turning toward a new era.

The Indiana Pacers will open training camp in late September. Deividas Sirvydis will have his first opportunity to show what he can do in the team’s first preseason game in Charlotte on October 5. The Pacers open the regular season on October 19.