Candace Buckner

candace.buckner@indystar.com

The Indiana Pacers gave unrestricted free agent Lavoy Allen an early wedding gift by working out a new deal to bring him back to the roster.

According to his agent, Allen, a 6-9, 255 pound reserve center, and the team agreed to a contract early Saturday morning. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, however the short-term contract should not affect the team's ability to re-sign the top priority, starter Lance Stephenson. The Pacers have already offered Stephenson a five-year, $44 million deal, which has not been accepted as of Saturday.

Allen came to Indiana in February as the overlooked component of the Danny Granger-Evan Turner trade. Though Turner, the former No. 2 NBA Draft pick, was the prime piece to come over from the Philadelphia 76ers, over time the Pacers viewed Allen as the player they wished to retain. In 14 regular season appearances with the Pacers, Allen averaged 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in only 8 minutes of play.

In spite of the limited time on the court, Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird specifically mentioned both Stephenson and Allen as the team's free agent targets this offseason.

Even after Indiana did not pick up Allen's reported $3.82 million qualifying offer, Allen worked out with the team during its free agent and rookie camp this past week. Allen did not travel with the Pacers to the Orlando Summer League games, instead returning home to continue preparations for his summer wedding and basketball future.

"He went home and contemplated the situation and then we reached an agreement," Allen's agent Andy Miller said. "He's excited about the opportunity to come back and have a full summer and preseason and to get acclimated and integrated into Frank's system, be a Pacer this year and hopefully contribute to their success as a team."

Allen's re-signing creates a potential logjam in the frontcourt as the Pacers now have four players who are listed as centers under contract for the 2014-15 season. This week, the team announced the signing of undrafted 6-10 rookie Shayne Whittington. In spite of the crowded rotation – which stands as of now – Miller views Allen's contract as an opportunity to truly grow with the team, instead of learning on the fly late in the year.

"He's getting married and going on his honeymoon. Then, it's back in Indiana in August and (he) will be training with the team," Miller said. "When he came in midseason, it was very difficult to get integrated into the inner fibers of the organization in terms of their system.

"Now he has familiarity and now he can get from a foundational standpoint involved and with it not being as intense it was at the midpoint of the season," Miller continued. "It gives him a chance to get familiarized with the coaching staff and the system at a different point of the season."

Call Star reporter Candace Buckner at (317) 444-6121. Follow her on Twitter: @CandaceDBuckner.