After a long wait for a team to acquire him, the New Orleans Pelicans agreed to a one-year deal with Lance Stephenson.
Over the past three years, Lance Stephenson went from a valuable and dominant player on the Indiana Pacers to an undesirable player, struggling to make a team.
It basically took two months for a team to decide if they wanted the once-dominant guard.
But it was the New Orleans Pelicans that finally decided to give Stephenson a spot on their roster, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Free agent Lance Stephenson has agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, league source tells The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 9, 2016
Why did it take so long for a team to acquire Stephenson? A number of factors are responsible for the wait.
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Stephenson’s rise as a two-way player was during the 2013-2014 season when he played for the Indiana Pacers. He averaged 13.8 points and helped the Pacers top the Eastern Conference with a 56-26 record that season.
Stephenson’s field goal efficiency percentage was 49.1, which was the highest for him during that time. He was even a key piece to the Pacers making it to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat. But they would lose that series for a second year in a row.
Larry Bird and the Pacers’ front office took note of Stephenson’s skills when they offered him a five-year, $44 million contract.
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But obviously Lance Stephenson was under the impression that he was worth more than that. The Charlotte Hornets subsequently offered him a three-year, $27 million deal, and Stephenson accepted. It marked the beginning of Stephenson’s fall; his statistical output was on the decline.
His three-point shooting efficiency went from basically 35 percent to 17 percent, which proves that it was a wrong decision to go to the Hornets.
Stephenson was eventually benched and traded to the L.A. Clippers, where things did not get any better. He only averaged 4.7 points and had limited minutes because of injuries he suffered throughout the season. Stephenson was later traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Stephenson was successful there and his minutes along with his statistical output increased. But that was primarily due to the Grizzlies needing him because of the team’s injuries. In last season’s playoffs he scored 13 points and was 52 percent in shooting efficiency.
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Despite that success with the Grizzlies, Stephenson’s performance has overall declined from his glory days with the Pacers. And that is part of the reason why a team has not found a spot for him on their roster.
Another reason is his overall attitude. Stephenson is a great ball handler and defender. But he has a flamboyant style of play, which does not always end in a good outcome.
Additionally, Stephenson has a history of conflict with players on the court. He has even had tensions with players on his own team (i.e., Evan Turner).
With a reputation like Stephenson’s and his significant decline, it is clear to see why teams have not been eager to acquire him. But the Pelicans are probably one of the few teams that could benefit from Stephenson’s skill set.
The likelihood of Anthony Davis‘ health along with the absence of Jrue Holiday due to his wife’s health issues, Lance Stephenson seems a viable and decent option for the team. The Pelicans could even be playoff contenders this upcoming season.
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Though Stephenson is far removed from his successes in Indiana, his stint with the Grizzlies proves that he can still be a valuable piece to a team.