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I remember seeing this kid play on ESPN for his HS and also at Cincinnati and it looked like he had all the talent in the world. I know he has had some off the court issues, but what is your guys stand on him with the log jam you have at the 2 position w/ George, Rush, and Jones?

Expecting good things from him next year?

Basically Stephenson's outcome is still TBD.

All the talent in the world is there and nobody from the Pacers sound like they would tell you any differently. Now, if that can translate into being a good NBA player.

He had his off-the-court issues and was also a headache in the locker room from the sounds of it. He butted heads with Dahntay Jones and apparently some other guys. Larry Bird referred to him as a "pain in the ass" but isn't yet giving up on him.

In the last couple weeks, he's shown up at a couple charity community events around the city. How much he got strong-armed into those, who knows. But I hope he figures it out. He's an amazing talent and for his sake and the team's, let's hope he straightens out.

I think the hope is that he'll be that combo guard that contributes at both the one and the two and makes trimming the roster much easier. unfortunately he didn't develop as much as he might have last year. rumors suggest he expected his high school success to carry over without the need for work. if that lesson hasn't been learned, I don't know that we need to a second year with him modeling fashions at the end of the bench.

Seems pretty clear that Stephenson will get more time to prove himself in Indiana. But he'd better start showing some signs of maturing--I doubt he'd be around for a third season if he doesn't.

It's nice to hear he has been to some charity events lately, but man if he can get his head on straight what a luxury it would be for you guys to have a guy who is 6'5" and can handle the rock and run the point at times. Def a good change of pace guy from Collison.

I hope for your guys sake he can come around because I love your guys young talent. As a Magic fan we are in desperate need of a shot of youth/young play makers on both ends so cherish your fellas =]

There's a lot of ifs, but with Stephenson I feel like it's high risk, high reward.

Insert: player who has been the star his whole life with huge expectations and thus a huge ego.

Add: Higher levels of competition, equally skilled/able players.

Minus: Nothing

Result: Lance Stephenson.

Miller4ever wrote:There's a lot of ifs, but with Stephenson I feel like it's high risk, high reward.

I wouldn't say the 40th pick is high risk. Definitely at 10, but not 40 IMO.

The risk is the guaranteed money.

I have a feeling we're all talking about a b/u to Collison, and all along he is already on our roster. I think Lance could easily handle 14-18 mpg, while adding a whole new element of toughness @ the 1. There is no question he is a 1 according to where he was inserted last season.

Regardless what anyone thinks of him, the opinion that matters (LB) is at an all-time high.

im a season ticket holder and had one of the functions Larry said he is the most talented player on the team. But he missed virtually the whole year due to his court case plus they are playing him out of position at PG and setting him up to fail that way IMO.

nets4nets wrote:im a season ticket holder and had one of the functions Larry said he is the most talented player on the team. But he missed virtually the whole year due to his court case plus they are playing him out of position at PG and setting him up to fail that way IMO.

He's gonna be best at point. What do you see him doing on offense with the ball not in his hands? He's easily the best ballhandler and passer on the team.

Indy2thaWindy wrote:

nets4nets wrote:im a season ticket holder and had one of the functions Larry said he is the most talented player on the team. But he missed virtually the whole year due to his court case plus they are playing him out of position at PG and setting him up to fail that way IMO.

He's gonna be best at point. What do you see him doing on offense with the ball not in his hands? He's easily the best ballhandler and passer on the team.

no he is not trust me i have followed his whole career he has failed at every level at PG he is a wing. His handles aren't great he dribbles too high and is careless. He will be a play making SG but he is not smart enough to run pg Tyreke Evans failed at pg and he has much more pg skills. I will agree he is one of the best passers on the team and it will help at SG or SF. But the guy is gonna get torched guarding other pg's plus he cant run an offense. Cinny switch him off pg faster than ever he is truly a wing not a pg.


When the ball isnt in his hands he needs to cut he is a slasher.

BTW with the charity events things he lives in indy full time now so that is a plus. He has been to every Pacers charity event this off season. He is a nice person the times i have met him but he better clean up his act if he wants to stay in the league the antic he and his team mates pulled last year were not cool. Thats not even mentioning his off the court issues.

When Lance played this past season it was exclusively at pg. He is by far the best penetrator on our roster. He showed a couple lapses at times, but he also did some things that left me salivating. In time I believe he can develop. When he penetrates he draws a big and then shows his awareness by lobbing it perfectly to Hibbert.

To my knowledge he was a great pg in high school, and then his only season @ Cincy there was already an established pg, so he played sg.

Lance is a playmaker, and if some of that skill can be harnessed to make those around him better, then I feel sorry for those who passed on him.

I still can't get over Larry Bird, he thinks a lot more of him than anyone on earth. Although, it is a fact that Simon loves to have his hometown's influence on the Pacers, so Lance has got that going for him too. I don't mind.

Boneman2 wrote:When Lance played this past season it was exclusively at pg. He is by far the best penetrator on our roster. He showed a couple lapses at times, but he also did some things that left me salivating. In time I believe he can develop. When he penetrates he draws a big and then shows his awareness by lobbing it perfectly to Hibbert.

To my knowledge he was a great pg in high school, and then his only season @ Cincy there was already an established pg, so he played sg.

Lance is a playmaker, and if some of that skill can be harnessed to make those around him better, then I feel sorry for those who passed on him.

I still can't get over Larry Bird, he thinks a lot more of him than anyone on earth. Although, it is a fact that Simon loves to have his hometown's influence on the Pacers, so Lance has got that going for him too. I don't mind.

No he moved from pg to SG in HS. He only played pg in AAU which is basically just 1v1 showoff clinic.



Like i said at the season ticket holder event Larry says he is only gonna play pg and is the most talent player on the team. I don't agree but w/e. I do agree he is a play maker a little to fancy at times but he is good at that. Slick Leonard said we are doing him an injustice playing him at PG and i agree. He is a wing he will get lite up playing pg the CP3's and even Kyle Lowrys would eat him for breakfeast.

nets4nets wrote:

Boneman2 wrote:When Lance played this past season it was exclusively at pg. He is by far the best penetrator on our roster. He showed a couple lapses at times, but he also did some things that left me salivating. In time I believe he can develop. When he penetrates he draws a big and then shows his awareness by lobbing it perfectly to Hibbert.

To my knowledge he was a great pg in high school, and then his only season @ Cincy there was already an established pg, so he played sg.

Lance is a playmaker, and if some of that skill can be harnessed to make those around him better, then I feel sorry for those who passed on him.

I still can't get over Larry Bird, he thinks a lot more of him than anyone on earth. Although, it is a fact that Simon loves to have his hometown's influence on the Pacers, so Lance has got that going for him too. I don't mind.

No he moved from pg to SG in HS. He only played pg in AAU which is basically just 1v1 showoff clinic.



Like i said at the season ticket holder event Larry says he is only gonna play pg and is the most talent player on the team. I don't agree but w/e. I do agree he is a play maker a little to fancy at times but he is good at that. Slick Leonard said we are doing him an injustice playing him at PG and i agree. He is a wing he will get lite up playing pg the CP3's and even Kyle Lowrys would eat him for breakfeast.

Steve Nash wasn't lighting him up or eating him for breakfast. His only problem on D, is getting lost on PnR's. He should get better with game experience. My only problem last season was he couldn't score.

Indy2thaWindy wrote:

nets4nets wrote:

Boneman2 wrote:When Lance played this past season it was exclusively at pg. He is by far the best penetrator on our roster. He showed a couple lapses at times, but he also did some things that left me salivating. In time I believe he can develop. When he penetrates he draws a big and then shows his awareness by lobbing it perfectly to Hibbert.

To my knowledge he was a great pg in high school, and then his only season @ Cincy there was already an established pg, so he played sg.

Lance is a playmaker, and if some of that skill can be harnessed to make those around him better, then I feel sorry for those who passed on him.

I still can't get over Larry Bird, he thinks a lot more of him than anyone on earth. Although, it is a fact that Simon loves to have his hometown's influence on the Pacers, so Lance has got that going for him too. I don't mind.

No he moved from pg to SG in HS. He only played pg in AAU which is basically just 1v1 showoff clinic.



Like i said at the season ticket holder event Larry says he is only gonna play pg and is the most talent player on the team. I don't agree but w/e. I do agree he is a play maker a little to fancy at times but he is good at that. Slick Leonard said we are doing him an injustice playing him at PG and i agree. He is a wing he will get lite up playing pg the CP3's and even Kyle Lowrys would eat him for breakfeast.

Steve Nash wasn't lighting him up or eating him for breakfast. His only problem on D, is getting lost on PnR's. He should get better with game experience. My only problem last season was he couldn't score.

I get to see the guy in practice he gets lite up every time he goes against TJ Ford let alone DC or another fast guard. If i remember about the suns game he was getting beat on PnR but Nash wasn't making anything that day one of his worst games of the season. I was sitting right behind Channing Fyre about 15 rows up when he made the game winner

nets4nets wrote:I get to see the guy in practice he gets lite up every time he goes against TJ Ford let alone DC or another fast guard. If i remember about the suns game he was getting beat on PnR but Nash wasn't making anything that day one of his worst games of the season. I was sitting right behind Channing Fyre about 15 rows up when he made the game winner

Practice? Sasha Vujacic is like MJ in practice. Maybe we could trade Granger for him. I'll take your word for it, even tho I shouldn't since you thought I was being serious about my Roy Hibbert-Isaiah Thomas comparison.

I could definitely see him having a good season in a backup combo-guard role. He'll be playing some shooting guard next year now that Dunleavy is gone, as is Brandon Rush likely. I think Bird loves him, and will look to make some moves to free up some time for him to play. That being said, he won't play in close games, unless absolutely necessary, but I think he'll have some decently long runs minute-wise in the first half of games. Expect a decent season from him if he can stay out of off the court problems.

Noonskadoodle wrote:I remember seeing this kid play on ESPN for his HS and also at Cincinnati and it looked like he had all the talent in the world. I know he has had some off the court issues, but what is your guys stand on him with the log jam you have at the 2 position w/ George, Rush, and Jones?

Expecting good things from him next year?

He would have had playing time at the end of the season but he got sat because of some maturity issue that was never revealed. He will be a good player if he matures if not then he will be cannon fodder for another team. Personally I hope the kid just shuts up and plays personally.