Pacers and Lance Stephenson at Impasse; Sign 2 Others

The Indiana Pacers and Lance Stephenson have been unable to agree on a new contract.

Stephenson believes that he is worth more than the $8.8 million per year that the Pacers have offered him. Based on recent deals between Jodie Meeks and the Pistons along with Avery Bradley and the Celtics, Stephenson has a point.

Meeks will earn $6.6 million and Bradley $8 million. Neither is of the caliber of Stephenson but it does set the bar for what he could or should make annually over the next few years.

Stephenson has stated that he isn’t just driven by money and that he wants to go to either a contender or a rising team.

The Pacers are the only team that can offer him a five year deal. Other teams would have to offer him $11 million  per year to match the guaranteed money from the Pacers. Stephenson made just under $1 million last season in the final year of his rookie contract.

The Pacers are up against a financial wall with the other starters accounting for $50.7 million and the cap set at $63.2 million (with the tax at $77 million). With other signings today, the Pacers will have to get creative with the cap if they really want to re-sign Stephenson.

Pacers Sign C.J. Miles

The Pacers reached a four year $18 million deal with Miles today.

Miles is a 6-6 shooting guard who has been in the league for nine years. He averaged just under 10 points while playing 19 minutes per game for the Cavs last season. He appeared in 51 games.

Miles shot 43-percent from the field last season and is a career 42-percent shooter. He hit 39-percent of his three pointers last season as well. This give the Pacers another floor spacer to come off the bench who can also provide reliable offense, something the team sorely needs.

For those keeping track the roster now reads like this: CJ Miles, CJ Watson, Paul George, George Hill, Solomon Hill. That won’t get confusing. 

Pacers Sign Damjan Rudez

The Pacers came to an agreement with 6-10 forward Rudez on Wednesday. The Croatian-born player is well known for his shooting ability. He shot 43-percent from the arc last season while the Pacers as a team ranked 22nd in the league in three-point shooting.

Along with Miles, the Pacers will have two reliable three point shooters in the second unit who could easily provide a spark off the bench offensively.