I like Lance Stephenson personally. He’s interesting and will generally tell you what is on his mind. In terms of full disclosure, I am in no way a close personal friend or confidant of this young man, and I’ve certainly never claimed to be such. There’s a part of me that realizes he has worked hard on his game for many years, and when you combine that with his natural talent and athleticism, he’s special.
Those qualities caught the eye of one Larry Joe Bird and convinced him to draft Stephenson. He did more than enough during his initial tenure with the Indiana Pacers to increase Bird’s interest in having him on the roster long term, and despite some questionable behavior along the way, Bird offered Stephenson a five-year, $44 million, fully guaranteed contract in July of 2014. The offer was rebuffed by an agent who felt his client could garner more on the free agent market. It backfired and left his client with a three-year, $27 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
Things quickly soured in Charlotte, and coupled with injuries, it left Stephenson to bounce around the league among several teams. Add in more injuries and a couple of 10-day contracts, and you’ve been updated on what occurred since he left Indianapolis.
Desperate for anything that would spark his struggling (kind word for it) team, Bird reached out to Stephenson again and signed him to a deal that could potentially pay $8 million over the next two seasons (the second year is a club option, allowing the Pacers to say no thanks if need be).
Stephenson’s return, while certainly overhyped, has contained some good moments. He’s played with energy and given the overall hapless Pacers a bit of a spark. They’re going to sneak into the playoffs as a low seed, though they’ll probably lose in an opening round series.
The other side to the return of this enigmatic individual is his penchant for taunting the opposition, which was on display against Toronto when he drove to the basket to score in the closing seconds of the game, which is strictly taboo in NBA circles. He apologized after the game, but did it with a grin. His clear disdain for the way the game is meant to be played in terms of sportsmanship was again showcased during the next road game, when he danced down the floor after hitting a 3-point basket to close the quarter against the Orlando Magic.
Before you buy in to all this poppycock about Good Lance/Bad Lance, just remember that the guy calling the shots with the Pacers is old school, and Bird has little patience for the type of nonsense that occurred in Orlando, especially when he took a risk, to say the least, by reuniting with his once-prized pupil when literally no one else was interested. That’s the big reason he gave him a club option on his second year, and it was strategic on Bird’s part. This offseason is one that will be interesting for the Pacers, with the likely departure of Paul George and the possibility of unrestricted free agent Jeff Teague receiving an offer that the Pacers might not be able to match. Sure, Stephenson is in the fold for next year under contract, but if he goes off the rails, Bird will have to make a decision as to what type of players he wants on the roster as he embarks on a potential rebuilding process.
One thing is for sure: Lance isn’t going to change, so it’s a matter of how much you tolerate as a franchise. Yes, it’s early, but the Pacers know this is a risky proposition at best. Sure, his $4 million salary next year is chump change by NBA standards, but somehow the Pacers may still end up looking foolish.
Good luck, Lance, and I hope you will be more mature this time around and play to your full potential, without the exploits you’ve demonstrated with officials, the opposition and even your teammates.
You’re capable of being special, and I do wish you the best, both on the floor and off. Take time to think about this golden opportunity you’ve been granted, as it could be your last one in the NBA. I don’t want to see you playing overseas, as the National Basketball Association is clearly where someone as talented as you belongs. Yes, the jury is still out, young man, and I hope you prove me wrong. Embrace the possibilities at your doorstep and, just this once, leave the dancing to the stars.
Danny Bridges, who thinks Lance Stephenson can still be a very special player, can be reached at (317) 370-8447 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.
