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Insider: It was fun while it lasted, but the Pacers and Lance Stephenson should part ways

INDIANAPOLIS — Lance Stephenson's triumphant return to Indiana was a joy to witness. After being out of the NBA for the entire 2019-20 season, he joined the G League to claw his way back, first signing a 10-day contract with the Hawks and then a string of 10-day deals with the Pacers before Indiana finally signed him for the rest of the 2021-22 season.

In true Stephenson fashion, he gave Pacers fans plenty to remember. He scored an NBA-record 20 first-quarter points off the bench against the Nets on Jan. 5, dished a career-high 14 assists against the Jazz three days later and threw a behind-the-back pass that led to an Oshae Brissett poster dunk against the Trail Blazers on March 20, arguably the team's most exciting play of the season.

"This is home," Stephenson said after his record-setting game against Brooklyn. "I still got my house here. I never left here, so it's amazing to play here. This is like playing in front of my family."

Pacers Forever wrote:Can’t read article due to paywall.

I would be sad to see Lance not resigned. I love his antics and his energy sparking the team. Lance pros is NBA experience, fan favorite, makes flashy plays, 2-1 assist to turnover ratio. Cons are his age 31, 3pt% 31, little upside.

A young player has more potential and if the Pacers make the right roster decisions better future talent will take his spot which it should.

Edmund Sumner is actually a better option than Lance if we can get him in on a prove it deal. Pros are age 26, 53% FG, 40% 3PT, speed, pesky pt guard defense. These numbers were from his last season with us.

Maybe if it’s over for Lance he can join the bench staff to stay connected here.

8305 wrote:

Pacers Forever wrote:Can’t read article due to paywall.

I would be sad to see Lance not resigned. I love his antics and his energy sparking the team. Lance pros is NBA experience, fan favorite, makes flashy plays, 2-1 assist to turnover ratio. Cons are his age 31, 3pt% 31, little upside.

A young player has more potential and if the Pacers make the right roster decisions better future talent will take his spot which it should.

Edmund Sumner is actually a better option than Lance if we can get him in on a prove it deal. Pros are age 26, 53% FG, 40% 3PT, speed, pesky pt guard defense. These numbers were from his last season with us.

Maybe if it’s over for Lance he can join the bench staff to stay connected here.

I agree that Sumner would make more sense,and with all the guards on this roster now I’m not sure we have a place for him.

Tom White wrote:Every time i read something from Boyd, I get more convinced he doesn't have a clue.

Does he really think other players filling the 14th or 15th spot would be more important to the team than Stephenson? Lance means more to this team than what shows in a box score.

Scoot McGroot wrote:As is, there’s simply no room on the roster for him. The draft was terrible for Lance. Currently, we have
Haliburton, Nembhard, McConnell, Washington, Brogdon, Buddy, Mathurin, and Duarte at the guard spots. We’re already overloaded there. Without a large move, there’s just not room for him.

And Lance is still too young to be a Haslem sitting on the end of the bench. He’s still able to play. If Lance is willing to wait out possible trades, then there might be a spot if we move 2-3 guards. But he also might wait too long and end up without a landing spot anywhere if it doesn’t work out.

Tom White wrote:

Scoot McGroot wrote:As is, there’s simply no room on the roster for him. The draft was terrible for Lance. Currently, we have
Haliburton, Nembhard, McConnell, Washington, Brogdon, Buddy, Mathurin, and Duarte at the guard spots. We’re already overloaded there. Without a large move, there’s just not room for him.

And Lance is still too young to be a Haslem sitting on the end of the bench. He’s still able to play. If Lance is willing to wait out possible trades, then there might be a spot if we move 2-3 guards. But he also might wait too long and end up without a landing spot anywhere if it doesn’t work out.

If I were the Pacers, I'd be tempted to look at him as more of a back-up SF. He has the strength and rebounding to play the position, and his ball handling and passing skills are still a plus. And you never know when he will unleash a clock beating three at a needed time.

But my main thing is, this is a team that just suffered through a season of only winning 25 games (injuries or not, that is awful), and what is remaining of the fanbase loves the guy and could care less about guys like Washington, Hinton, Sykes or York. I might be able to make a case for Taylor, but still... In this case, I think you give the fans someone they love to root for.

Tom White wrote:

Scoot McGroot wrote:As is, there’s simply no room on the roster for him. The draft was terrible for Lance. Currently, we have
Haliburton, Nembhard, McConnell, Washington, Brogdon, Buddy, Mathurin, and Duarte at the guard spots. We’re already overloaded there. Without a large move, there’s just not room for him.

And Lance is still too young to be a Haslem sitting on the end of the bench. He’s still able to play. If Lance is willing to wait out possible trades, then there might be a spot if we move 2-3 guards. But he also might wait too long and end up without a landing spot anywhere if it doesn’t work out.

If I were the Pacers, I'd be tempted to look at him as more of a back-up SF. He has the strength and rebounding to play the position, and his ball handling and passing skills are still a plus. And you never know when he will unleash a clock beating three at a needed time.

But my main thing is, this is a team that just suffered through a season of only winning 25 games (injuries or not, that is awful), and what is remaining of the fanbase loves the guy and could care less about guys like Washington, Hinton, Sykes or York. I might be able to make a case for Taylor, but still... In this case, I think you give the fans someone they love to root for.

pacers33granger wrote:I don't really buy the argument that there's no room for him. I think we're seeing the same thing that happened in Dallas in that Rick plays a bunch of guards. Guys will get time and only Hali should see significant minutes.

We need to get rid of Brogdon of course but there's a spot for him to be an end of the bench vet and he won't be blocking any young guys.

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Wizop wrote:If I have to choose, I'd take Sumner over Lance.

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