Lance .... declined .....

xBulletproof · Post #1 » by **xBulletproof** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:23 pm

Read on Twitter

Didn't see that coming. We must be planning to do something.

DoubleEagle4 · Post #2 » by **DoubleEagle4** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:30 pm

I hope this means a big move is coming, because Lance at $4.3m is a good deal.

MUpacersSIC · Post #3 » by **MUpacersSIC** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:32 pm

Pacers__Talk wrote:I hope this means a big move is coming, because Lance at $4.3m is a good deal.

I think it means they are going hard for the restricted free agents.

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Tom White · Post #4 » by **Tom White** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:37 pm

That will probably upset a number of people, but I can't say it is really surprising.

My guess is his antics have caught up with him? Taking away from the focus on the team?

His personality is what drew a lot of people to him, but sometimes that personality resulted in somewhat disruptive play. His actual skills can be replaced pretty easily, but the enthusiasm he generated is another thing.

Could it be they think they can get a Marcus Smart or someone like that? Tyreke Evans? Will Barton?

Or......maybe they declined the option in order to sign him to a better contract for more dollars and more years?

winter_mute_13 · Post #5 » by **winter_mute_13** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:49 pm

I'm a Lance fan, but... it's hard to deny that he's often a negative on the court. And while he had keyed some spectacular comeback wins, the numbers say he is a negative overall.

Maybe after FA shakes out, we'll sign him again. That's my heart-over-head hope anyway.

Wizop · Post #6 » by **Wizop** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:51 pm

hmmm, did the podcaster know something when he said Lance was declined and Thad opted out? he's a respected writer for the Athletic.

granger05 · Post #7 » by **granger05** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:58 pm

Considering Lance's role, that was a decent value I thought. His knuckleheadedness never seemed like much of an issue with Indy. I do think they can likely bring him back if they wanted. I don't know who else would want him. He bounced around on that last contract from CHA and then was on a couple of 10-days before we signed him. He definitely a different player here, but he has his warts.

I'm not sure chasing RFAs is a great strategy since you only get them if you overpay. However, we may just have plans to facilitate deals with cap space. I'm fine with that too.

pacerfan1984 · Post #8 » by **pacerfan1984** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:16 pm

Pacers know there wont be much of a market for him so they can reverse back to him if their Plan A and B dont work out

Wizop · Post #9 » by **Wizop** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:17 pm

I'm having trouble believing that Lance's cap number was big enough that eliminating it frees us up to get someone who would contribute more than Lance did. is it possible that making him a free agent allows us to sign him to a more favorable, longer term deal than would be allowed under the rules for extensions?

Post #10 » by **Jake0890** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:20 pm

Wow, I'm not happy about this.

He was on a good deal and provided a lot to the team on the court as well as just being a leader and pumping up the crowd.

Maybe because the market for him (outside of Indiana) isn't good, the Pacers plan to bring him back after taking a swing at some free agents. But if we just declined the $3.4 mil option on the heart of this team so we could bring in more middling guys and tell ourselves that the trade deadline will finally be the time to make a move, I'm going to be pissed.

Wizop · Post #11 » by **Wizop** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:23 pm

Here is story from Star with quotes from Pritchard.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2018/06/25/pacers-decline-lance-stephensons-option/732182002/

I don't get it.

Post #12 » by **Jake0890** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:26 pm

"Wow and I was the bad guy huh?! In this business you do what’s right for YOU! #PacerLegend"

Paul George is right here. To have expected him to stick around and then decline Lance's option is hypocritical. Since arriving back from what I'm sure he considers to be his biggest mistake of his NBA career, Lance has been nothing but great to have around for this team.

Wizop · Post #13 » by **Wizop** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:33 pm

I now think this may have been a coaching decision. doesn't make sense to me as a money decision, but I can see the coaches tiring of the show boating.

Tom White · Post #14 » by **Tom White** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:44 pm

Jake0890 wrote:
Paul George is right here. To have expected him to stick around and then decline Lance's option is hypocritical. Since arriving back from what I'm sure he considers to be his biggest mistake of his NBA career, Lance has been nothing but great to have around for this team.

I'd say that is PG being PG. In other words, being a bigger ass every time he opens his mouth.

Post #15 » by **Jake0890** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:45 pm

Read on Twitter

I like Will Barton, but I'd like to pass on Tyreke.. would rather go for Smart in either case.

Post #16 » by **boomershadow** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:45 pm

Seems like a pretty horrible move in my opinion. The team option was basically there for the team to have if he played well, then they could keep him for 4.3 million which in today's league is nothing. And I'd say he more than exceeded expectations. 4 million for a rotation player. Seriously. There are guys that bring way less to the table than Lance who are asking for serious, serious paydays. For 4 million, he could be an end of the bench guy with a bit of experience.

I've been pretty optimistic going into this off-season, but idk man. I wasn't expecting this at all. We'll see, I guess.

Edit:
This makes me feel slightly better. Only slightly

Read on Twitter

winter_mute_13 · Post #17 » by **winter_mute_13** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:00 pm

Some of the media people (Kravitz, Agness) seem to think Lance might still return, but I guess that depends on whether other teams have interest, as well as how the Pacers' own FA plans work out. I guess we'll see.

Also, declining the Lance TO alone does NOT get the Pacers to cap space. Either Thad needs to opt out, or Pacers need to waive another guy (presumably Al Jeff).

basketballwacko2 · Post #18 » by **basketballwacko2** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:16 pm

I dont like this where can you get a guy who gives you this level of production for $4.3 million?

Maybe he comes back on a minimum deal? He hasn't had any success anywhere else.

SuperReggie31 · Post #19 » by **SuperReggie31** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:40 pm

Not surprising. We'll either restructure his deal or look at another FA.

Apparently, we're in the mix for Rodney Hood as well:

Another playoff team that could use more scoring on the wing, the Indiana Pacers could also make sense as a landing spot for Hood.

After the jump Victor Oladipo made this past year, Indiana’s highest priority this offseason should be finding the explosive 2-guard some help on the wing. At this point in his career, Lance Stephenson is mostly a defensive specialist whose efficiency-related shortcomings on the offensive end hamper his overall effectiveness, while Bojan Bogdanovic is little more than a spot-up three-point specialist, albeit a deadly one. And Glenn Robinson III, despite athleticism that’s off the charts and an outside stroke that’s helped him sink 38.1 percent of his triples for his career, hasn’t earned a consistent spot in Nate McMillan’s rotation as of yet.

Thus, the Pacers taking a flyer on a talent like Hood could prove worthwhile.

https://hoopshype.com/2018/06/25/rodney-hood-cleveland-cavaliers-free-agency/

xBulletproof · Post #20 » by **xBulletproof** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:50 pm

Jake0890 wrote:"Wow and I was the bad guy huh?! In this business you do what’s right for YOU! #PacerLegend"

Paul George is right here. To have expected him to stick around and then decline Lance's option is hypocritical. Since arriving back from what I'm sure he considers to be his biggest mistake of his NBA career, Lance has been nothing but great to have around for this team.

No, Paul George sounds like a doofus. If I was on Instagram here is the message I would leave him.

Loyalty, for Lance? You mean the guy that Larry Bird talked up and championed for years, before offering him 5 years and 44 million. Only to be told it's not enough, and Lance ends up going elsewhere and play for LESS money? Is that the kind of loyalty you speak of? The kind of loyalty you're talking about is earned through playing well enough to earn awards and accolades, or being like Haslem in Miami. A guy who sacrificed and plays a role in championships when he had opportunities to go elsewhere. I doubt Lance has even won a player of the week award, nor has Indiana accomplished anything in his time here. Nothing he has done merits a great level of loyalty. You however have been an All NBA player and All Star here, while coming back from a horrific injury. Shame on you for slapping yourself in the face by comparing yourself to that guy. There is no comparison. You were the type of player to command that loyalty, Lance isn't. You didn't stick around long enough to find out if that was the case or not. Careful Paul, your insecurities are showing.