Lance Stephenson vs. Eric Bledsoe

LApwnd · Post #1 » by **LApwnd** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 10:50 pm

out of these 2 who would you guys feel is a better fit and worth throwing anywhere from 10-13mill/yr for? Lets ignore the RFA status with Bledsoe for this argument and just focus on need and value to the team presently and in the future.

Stevenson
-good defense
-all around player
-tough/physical player
-mean streak

Only issue I have with Stevenson is he is playing next to other solid-great 2 way players in Geroge/Hibbert. He will not be afforded that luxury here. Would be expected to be at very least the 2nd best player here on any given night. I do not see him being able to do that in the long term.

Bledose
-one of the quicker PG in the league
-is a pest a against opposing PG, fast, slow big whatevers
-can get into the paint at will and is improving his 3pt shot

His issue, his knees....from all accts it is not the kind that will rob him of his athleticism/speed but has sidelined him twice as pro and for long periods of time (2nd year as clipp and this year).

My preference is Bledsoe if both were agreeable to terms and neither had restrictions. He is a PG, a young one and one that has the speed to defend opposing speedy guards (something we haven't had on our team for a decade now), he is very athletic. Stevenson plays 2/3 well but to me if we dont land Embiid and are set to draft Exum, Parker or Wiggins...Bledsoe would be the ideal piece to round out the team. Again we're ignoring the RFA status of Bledsoe for this conversation.

frozt · Post #2 » by **frozt** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 10:58 pm

Scoring PG's don't win chips. Unless they have a big man, history has shown this. I'd go with Stephenson, but again, I'm not sure I'd be willing to throw the max at either. You don't throw the max at Bledsoe coming off knee surgery...

Mamba Mentality · Post #3 » by **Mamba Mentality** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:07 pm

Stevenson's play is way too erratic. Sure he'll bust his ass on both ends of the floor, but he's prone to taking bad shots and overdribbling. He kind of reminds me of a younger/quicker version of MWP. I would much rather have a guy who plays controlled.

Post #4 » by **crazyeights** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:15 pm

I'm a big Bledsoe fan. Pretty sure Phoenix will match, but we should make one regardless.

theFRANCHISE · Post #5 » by **theFRANCHISE** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:20 pm

bledsoe fosho

ballaholick · Post #6 » by **ballaholick** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:22 pm

Pass on both

EArl · Post #7 » by **EArl** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:48 pm

Stephenson since I don't trust Bledsoes knees.

I would rather go for Lowry.

MoLakers · Post #8 » by **MoLakers** » Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:57 pm

ebled all day

ALL HAIL · Post #9 » by **ALL HAIL** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 12:12 am

Lakers need to be fiscally conservative folks.

Neither Stephenson, nor Bledsoe are 2nd best players on a championship-level team ... and for that money, if they're not the second best player, they need to, at the very, very least, be bigmen, which they aren't.

I don't care how much space the Lakers have, going on a mindless shopping spree, spending that kind of money on those two, would be a waste of money and quite typical of a sorry ass GM (reference Joe Dumars).

Fresh360Waves · Post #10 » by **Fresh360Waves** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 1:30 am

I wouldn't go after neither.

cashflo · Post #11 » by **cashflo** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 2:45 am

Nope.. Patience is a virtue

tviper · Post #12 » by **tviper** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 2:47 am

Stephenson, but neither will be obtainable. Phoenix will match anything for Bledsoe, and someone will give Stephenson 12-14M or he will go back to IND.

H00PDREAMS · Post #13 » by **H00PDREAMS** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 3:39 am

nah. We need bigger fish in this pond. We need a bonafide baller. a certified game changer.

Biased_Fan6425 · Post #14 » by **Biased_Fan6425** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 9:13 am

Lakers like sharks not fishes...

TonyMontana · Post #15 » by **TonyMontana** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:44 pm

Neither one. But if I had one choice it would be Stephenson.

Experience tells me nothing good comes out of Phoenix ex point guards with injuries.

Post #16 » by **dockingsched** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 6:26 pm

i wouldn't want to offer either a contract near 13 mil.

After hearing mitch say that they weren't just going to spend their cap just to spend it and get themselves stuck in mediocrity, i don't think the lakers would sign them either.

LApwnd · Post #17 » by **LApwnd** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 9:33 pm

you guys under estimating balanced team….with either guys we'd still have cap room for Love during 2015 depending on who we bring back and for how much this off-season. Then 2016 Kobe is done and we'd be sitting pretty with Bled or Lance with Love and money for a Durant type FA lvl.

lakersin4 · Post #18 » by **lakersin4** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 9:55 pm

I'd take Lowry for under 8M instead.

HoopsterJones · Post #19 » by **HoopsterJones** » Sat Feb 22, 2014 9:56 pm

Two things about Bledsoe

1. He has only played 24 games this season as a 1st year starter and is coming off an knee injury a torn meniscus that was removed. Dwyane Wade had a similar procedure performed and has been dealing with chronic knee injuries since.

2. The Suns have ample cap space and will without a doubt match any qualifying offer as long as it's not something ridiculous. I think the most any other team can sign him for is $13 million per season for 4 years i believe.

Two things about Lance Stephenson

1. The Pacers are probably looking into their books and trying to figure out how they can keep Lance Stephenson and not go into the Luxury tax. Larry Bird has consistently stated that they will not for whatever reason tread into the luxury tax. I'm not sure if the same holds true if they get past Miami and make the NBA Finals this year. Or even more so if they win it all this year. Would they break up a young core of Paul George, Hibbert, Stephenson, and the veteran West if they are still contenders?

2. The Pacers could let Evan Turner walk this offseason and keep Lance Stephenson by signing him to a qualifying offer or matching a Restricted Free agent offer sheet. The Pacers may also have to get rid of a few more players for minimal offers (2nd round picks) for Mahinmi, Scola, or Copeland. And they can stay under the luxury tax.

LApwnd · Post #20 » by **LApwnd** » Sun Feb 23, 2014 3:55 am

HoopsterJones wrote:
Two things about Lance Stephenson

1. The Pacers are probably looking into their books and trying to figure out how they can keep Lance Stephenson and not go into the Luxury tax. Larry Bird has consistently stated that they will not for whatever reason tread into the luxury tax. I'm not sure if the same holds true if they get past Miami and make the NBA Finals this year. Or even more so if they win it all this year. Would they break up a young core of Paul George, Hibbert, Stephenson, and the veteran West if they are still contenders?

2. The Pacers could let Evan Turner walk this offseason and keep Lance Stephenson by signing him to a qualifying offer or matching a Restricted Free agent offer sheet. The Pacers may also have to get rid of a few more players for minimal offers (2nd round picks) for Mahinmi, Scola, or Copeland. And they can stay under the luxury tax.

Lance is not restricted, he was a 2nd rd pick