Should The Pacers Trade For Lance Stephenson?
To quote Sebastian from the Little Mermaid, “The seaweed is always greener, in somebody else’s lake.” That’s what Lance Stephenson had to be thinking when he left the Indiana Pacers in the offseason, to sign as a free agent with the Charlotte Hornets.
Stephenson signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Hornets over the summer, bolting from Indiana to become a star. That “star” is averaging 9.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. This is coming off a breakout year with the Pacers, where Stephenson averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists for the Pacers.
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The stats are pretty similar aside from a couple buckets a game, but “Born Ready” is only shooting 36.7 percent with Hornets, compared to 49.1 percent with the Pacers last year.
Though Stephenson’s numbers aren’t terrible, Grantland’s Zach Lowe writes that Charlotte’s signing may not be going as planned.
"The Hornets have been aggressive making trade calls, according to sources across the league.The Hornets are searching for upgrades on the wing and at power forward, per those sources, and they are willing to talk turkey on basically anyone other than Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson. Free agents signed this past offseason can’t be traded until December 15, and few would be surprised if the Hornets make and take calls on Lance Stephenson ahead of that trigger date."
If the Hornets do make and take calls, should the Pacers answer?
Stephenson was always a fan favorite with the Pacers, as well as with Team President Larry Bird. Though some were happy to rid themselves of a potential headache in Stephenson, most were upset to see him go. With the Pacers dealing with an array of injuries this year, Stephenson’s talent could be hard to pass up.
The Pacers have an experiment of their own that hasn’t worked out, so far, in C.J Miles. Indiana could look to package Miles in a trade to Charlotte, in hopes of a Stephenson reunion.
There’s no guarantee that either team would bite, but if Stephenson and the Pacers truly felt he belonged in Indiana, perhaps the opportunity will present itself again.