Los Angeles Lakers: How will Lance Stephenson fit in next year?

Last season

Lance Stephenson was the Indiana Pacers’ energy and best defender off the bench during the 2017-18 season. He appeared in all 82 games, averaging 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in his time with the club.

While Stephenson isn’t the greatest shooter, his play mirrors that of Cleveland Cavaliers’ shooting guard J.R. Smith. He’s a guy you’d love to have on your team for his competitive spirit but at times, he’s also unpredictable.

He shot 42.7 percent from the field and just 28.9 percent from 3-point land, but during the postseason, his production and efficiency saw a slight uptick. In the 2018 NBA Playoffs, he averaged 10.4 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting from the field and 30.8 percent from 3.

It was Stephenson’s first time adjusting to coming off the bench for the Pacers. He’ll be much more prepared for the role next season with the Lakers.