Pacer fans, when Lance left, did you have a good feeling that he would struggle somewhere else?

[TheBomb81]

It sucks seeing how he has been playing for the past two seasons now and is not the same guy in his last season in Indiana. Would you like Lance Stephenson back on the team?

[Miller4ever]

I absolutely thought that he would be bad if the right conditions weren't there for him. At the time I thought he would do as well in only 2 or 3 locker rooms in the league.

I don't think we have that locker room anymore, so I don't think the fit would be good.

[Scoot McGroot]

It sucks seeing how he has been playing for the past two seasons now and is not the same guy in his last season in Indiana. Would you like Lance Stephenson back on the team?

Never thought he would devolve this badly. We knew how much work went into making Lance Stephenson merely a usable NBA player. We hired people to follow him 24/7, hooked him up with his apartment near the field house in Indy, and essentially kept him on a curfew. We placed his locker next to David West, and had Clark Kellogg spend hours every day working with Lance on his personal skills and maturity as a "life coach" of sorts. That was all over 4 years, and we essentially benched him 2 years as if he were a bronco that had to be broken before he could be rebuilt into a usable guy.

So, in essence, he requires a TON of structure and leadership in order to be usable, but not, I don't think we saw him collapse as he has.

Ultimately, no, I don't think we would want him back on the team, barring a deal that was supremely team friendly (4 years, non guaranteed each year, very low salary, etc).

[8305]

Lance evolved into a 2 guard who needs to ball. There are very few pg's in the league who coexist with that kind of player. I didn't think Kemba Walker was a good fit next to Lance, Chris Paul even worse. I'm not surprised things went bad for Lance nor am I surprised that he was effectively replaced last year by Rodney Stuckey. I see no place for him on this team now and wonder if with hind sight the Pacers would embark on a similar reclamation project again?

[pacers33granger]

Lance evolved into a 2 guard who needs to ball. There are very few pg's in the league who coexist with that kind of player. I didn't think Kemba Walker was a good fit next to Lance, Chris Paul even worse. I'm not surprised things went bad for Lance nor am I surprised that he was effectively replaced last year by Rodney Stuckey. I see no place for him on this team now and wonder if with hind sight the Pacers would embark on a similar reclamation project again?

I think Bird would, provided he would be really selective with the player (assuming I'm understanding you correctly, that is would Indy take on a similarly flawed player, not Lance).

For all the issues with Lance and him leaving for nothing, the whole saga still played out fairly well for Indy and Bird. We got 2 super cheap years of a good starter and Bird and the organization got some positives overall imo. People now know that the Pacers will work with players to make them realize their full potential and back them during their down times (unless they don't deserve backing).

Things like that can pay dividends. I'm sure Bird will be including in pitches to guys that the team was able to make a slow footed center (Hibbert) into an all star and a non shooting 2 guard with some major issues into a near all star and both guys crashed hard after leaving. Probably could include that the team has made career "losers" such as Stuckey, Miles, Jordan Hill, and Ellis (jury still out on the last two a bit) into key players on winning teams. Really things like that are huge for small market teams in getting talent.

[8305]

Lance evolved into a 2 guard who needs to ball. There are very few pg's in the league who coexist with that kind of player. I didn't think Kemba Walker was a good fit next to Lance, Chris Paul even worse. I'm not surprised things went bad for Lance nor am I surprised that he was effectively replaced last year by Rodney Stuckey. I see no place for him on this team now and wonder if with hind sight the Pacers would embark on a similar reclamation project again?

I think Bird would, provided he would be really selective with the player (assuming I'm understanding you correctly, that is would Indy take on a similarly flawed player, not Lance).

For all the issues with Lance and him leaving for nothing, the whole saga still played out fairly well for Indy and Bird. We got 2 super cheap years of a good starter and Bird and the organization got some positives overall imo. People now know that the Pacers will work with players to make them realize their full potential and back them during their down times (unless they don't deserve backing).

Things like that can pay dividends. I'm sure Bird will be including in pitches to guys that the team was able to make a slow footed center (Hibbert) into an all star and a non shooting 2 guard with some major issues into a near all star and both guys crashed hard after leaving. Probably could include that the team has made career "losers" such as Stuckey, Miles, Jordan Hill, and Ellis (jury still out on the last two a bit) into key players on winning teams. Really things like that are huge for small market teams in getting talent.

You make a number of compelling points. One thing the Pacers have been doing an excellent job of for over a decade now is player development. And, you would like to think agents and players would notice that Indiana is an excellent "players" destination. My thought goes beyond player development with Lance. He was an extreme case of high maintenance and seeing how easily he was replaced was he really worth the trouble?

[basketballwacko2]

It sucks seeing how he has been playing for the past two seasons now and is not the same guy in his last season in Indiana. Would you like Lance Stephenson back on the team?

I felt like Charlotte was a bad fit, which it was. I thought he might have a resurgence with the Clips but nope. I think he miss's PG.

[boomershadow]

I thought he would take a step backwards. I didn't realize he was standing at the edge of a cliff.

Facing away from it.

[Skiptastic]

I wish we lived in a world where Lance was either back on the team or had never left. Beyond the wins and losses, he was so enjoyable to watch. My wife and I loved Born Ready.

I hope he can turn things around somewhere or come back here next year if his team option isn't picked up.

[Scoot McGroot]

I wish we lived in a world where Lance was either back on the team or had never left. Beyond the wins and losses, he was so enjoyable to watch. My wife and I loved Born Ready.

I hope he can turn things around somewhere or come back here next year if his team option isn't picked up.

Boy, I get that people loved watching him play, but for me, it was cringe-worthy watching him all the time. He made so many plays, but they were so ugly, and so past the edge of control that I was cringing the whole time watching him play. His game certainly wasn't "beautiful" by any means, but Vogel and company certainly controlled him enough to get it in the realm of usable.

[basketballwacko2]

If Lance can settle down a little and play the gave without the antics he could be a very good player. I've said it before if he could be signed this summer for a low dollar contract maybe a 2yr $2.5 million deal I'd like to see him as a Pacer again.

[glasket]

I thought Lance would take a slight step back but could be a solid contributor (6th man) in the right atmosphere. He needs the ball in his hands.

I didn't think he would regress as much as he did.



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[TheGameWinner]

If Lance can settle down a little and play the gave without the antics he could be a very good player. I've said it before if he could be signed this summer for a low dollar contract maybe a 2yr $2.5 million deal I'd like to see him as a Pacer again.

I honestly think as a Grizzly he is back to his Indy days... He is playing well and has some stupid mistakes. I think his shooting is also at a career high. Success followed by benching made him work on his craft. Memphis will probably keep him next season @9 mill. He is working well in that system.

[boomershadow]

17 points for Lance in a win over the Cavs.