2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Lance Stephenson: 1 years, $4.4 million (Los Angeles Lakers)
Sources: It’s a one-year, $4.5 million deal. https://t.co/DUcYC4EDNo
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 2, 2018
The NBA is the best sports league in the world and it is not close. What else can you say when this guy is about to join LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers for a year?
In a move that seems designed to fit the $4.4 million room exception (despite being reported as $4.5 million), the recently waived Lance Stephenson will be heading to Hollywood to team up with the guy whose ear he once blew in. The best part is there’s no way in hell such a move was made without LeBron’s approval, which makes this union even sweeter.
Stephenson isn’t much of a raw stats guy, but he’s a committed defender, a tenacious competitor and a secondary playmaker — all useful traits when playing alongside the King. His career 30.3 percent mark from 3 is troublesome, but Born Ready put up 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in a bench role with the Pacers last year. If he can retain that Hoosiers magic in L.A., this will work out pretty nicely. The entertainment factor alone is worth the one-year deal.
Bourguet Grade: A-
Hoops Habit Grade: B-