Lakers Interested In Signing Lance Stephenson?

WCDYNASTY · Post #1 » by **WCDYNASTY** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 4:52 am

Lakers Interested In Signing Lance Stephenson?
Posted by: Ryan Ward (February 06, 2014)

The Los Angeles Lakers will have a considerable amount of cap space this summer and might be considering making a play at some of the bigger names on the open market. One that has surfaced as a potential target is Lance Stephenson according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News:

The Lakers, Bulls and Bobcats will be among the teams who can and would offer an ample payday and increased opportunity for Stephenson this summer.

It remains uncertain at this point in time if the Lakers will make a serious run at any of the big-name players potentially on the market. LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony may be among the free agent class of 2014 this summer, but they’ll need to opt-out of their current deals in order to do so.

If neither James or Anthony become free agents, Stephenson will be one of the most sought after players. Although still considered a secondary player with the Indiana Pacers to the likes of All-Stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert, Stephenson is quickly emerging as a star and was one of the surprising snubs for the Eastern Conference All-Star reserves recently.

Stephenson is currently averaging career-high numbers across the board. In 47 games with the Pacers this season, Stephenson is averaging 14.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 50.1 percent from the floor.

SOURCE:
http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-lakers-interested-in-signing-lance-stephenson/2014/02/06/

WCDYNASTY · Post #2 » by **WCDYNASTY** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 4:54 am

Lance Stephenson? Good player but no thanks.

myersia · Post #3 » by **myersia** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 5:02 am

Would be great next to Kobe. If we could draft Exem or Smart. Sign Stevenson and make a decent run at Gortat or Hayes and sign Gasol to a respectable contract (highly unlikey) I would be happy.

Exem/Smart
Stevenson
Kobe
Gasol
Gortat (Or Hayes)

Post #4 » by **Kilroy** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 5:10 am

I'm not even sure why they write stories like these.... Of course we're 'interested in signing him'... Everybody is if he's available and for the right price... It doesn't mean he's our top choice or that we will...

I wish someone would just write articles like this for every potential free agent this year and next and put them out all at once... Get it over with...

TylersLakers · Post #5 » by **TylersLakers** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 5:52 am

I wouldn't. Kyle Lowry would be my choice.

tviper · Post #6 » by **tviper** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 6:24 am

I wrote this about a month ago on one of these threads. Stephensen has to be the #1 priority IMO. Check out the list of FA. There is nobody. Melo is too expensive. LAL should have around 20M in cap room after all of the cap holds are taken into account. Sorry to say, but Nash is here through next year most likely, he won't be waived.

So, you have Nash, Kobe, Sacre, and whoever else from this year's squad you want to keep for the bench (other than Hill, Blake, Kaman, and Pau due to high cap holds). That is a really un-athletic bunch with defensive issues, so athleticism is a top priority, as is SG as Kobe will likely slide over to SF. Stephensen is hyper-athletic and can defend the perimeter. Will be tough for him to leave if IND comes close in salary and they win the ring, but LAL should make it really difficult.

Regarding Lowry, the issue is that LAL already has Nash, likely Farmar, and the pick will likely be in the 5-6 range, meaning Exum or Smart. So bad use of $ to pay another PG.

ballaholick · Post #7 » by **ballaholick** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 6:28 am

WCDYNASTY wrote:Lance Stephenson? Good player but no thanks.

Kangaroohop · Post #8 » by **Kangaroohop** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 8:22 am

Yes please.

ak7 · Post #9 » by **ak7** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 3:03 pm

Kilroy wrote:I'm not even sure why they write stories like these.... Of course we're 'interested in signing him'... Everybody is if he's available and for the right price... It doesn't mean he's our top choice or that we will...

I wish someone would just write articles like this for every potential free agent this year and next and put them out all at once... Get it over with...

It's LakersNation, what do you expect? They don't actually write their own stuff, they just paraphrase what a big media outlet has already said.

I hate them with a burning passion.

Beethoven · Post #10 » by **Beethoven** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 4:13 pm

Kilroy wrote:I'm not even sure why they write stories like these.... Of course we're 'interested in signing him'... Everybody is if he's available and for the right price... It doesn't mean he's our top choice or that we will...

I wish someone would just write articles like this for every potential free agent this year and next and put them out all at once... Get it over with...

Exactly how I feel

MAM5A · Post #11 » by **MAM5A** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 6:19 pm

NO thanks... ive seen him play in High school against my buddy who went to Robeson HS in brooklyn. He can play but if hes gonna get star money i think its definitely not worth it.. he needs to be in a system like indiana where he can be an X factor in order to have his highest value...otherwise hes not gonna be worth a large salary

MaDsKiLLzz24 · Post #12 » by **MaDsKiLLzz24** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 10:01 pm

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/11/4/5065678/lance-stephenson-free-agency-pacers

As of Nov '13 he wanted to stay a Pacer, not sure if he will change his mind once he becomes a free agent.

islander009 · Post #13 » by **islander009** » Fri Feb 7, 2014 10:43 pm

yes please. Just not for top dollar.

Fresh360Waves · Post #14 » by **Fresh360Waves** » Sat Feb 8, 2014 2:01 am

Would love to, but he'll be demanding a lot of money and the Lakers don't need to be throwing out money like that especially to Stephenson.

chefy · Post #15 » by **chefy** » Sat Feb 8, 2014 2:25 am

For the right $$$.

Pierre The Poet · Post #16 » by **Pierre The Poet** » Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:58 am

MAM5A wrote:NO thanks... ive seen him play in High school against my buddy who went to Robeson HS in brooklyn. He can play but if hes gonna get star money i think its definitely not worth it.. he needs to be in a system like indiana where he can be an X factor in order to have his highest value...otherwise hes not gonna be worth a large salary

Lol you're basing this off high school?

Frank Dux · Post #17 » by **Frank Dux** » Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:02 am

He should be one of the highest priorities. He's young, athletic, can pass, rebound, and he plays his butt off on both sides of the ball. He's also attainable too due to indy not wanting to go into the lux tax too, unlike the Bledsoe situation.

I would take him over Lowry, Deng(no thanks), and most of the other names that's been thrown around. He has star potential IMO.

LApwnd · Post #18 » by **LApwnd** » Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:27 pm

IF we sign him to that big money contract, he would be expected to be a #2 at worse, I dont see this guy as a #2.....He's putting up #'s like Harden when he was a #3 during his OKC days and I was wrong in thinking Harden would have hard time improving on those #'s. So if we somehow do get him I would at least hope for Harden like #'s during his OKC tenure, I'm certainly not on the "star" train on this guy, I dont see it. I see a very solid 3rd guy who gets to roam around on both ends because of Granger/Hibbert pressence on both sides of the floor.