8p9s Roundtable: Should the Pacers Trade for Lance Stephenson?

3. Who on the Charlotte Hornets roster, other than Lance Stephenson, should Indiana try to get in a deal?

Searle: Gary Neal and Jason Maxiell account for over $4 million in expiring money at the end of this season. Getting the Hornets to kick in Neal for C.J. Miles (getting the last three years of C.J.’s contract off the books) would be a very nice sweeter for Indiana. I assume The Hoosiers (Cody Zeller and Noah Vonleh) are off the table, but a homecoming for either IU “alumni” would be a home run for Mr. Bird.

Washburn: I would inquire about whichever of the young, former Hoosier power forwards (Cody Zeller and Noah Vonleh) the Hornets like the least. Even though Indiana has very good depth in its front court, no current Pacer possesses the upside and potential to replace David West that Zeller and Vonleh hold.

Ochoa: Who I want the Pacers to get and realistic expectations of how this deal might work out are two totally different things. Realistically, if they could get Lance and Zeller, I would be pretty stoked.

Gibson: I don’t really see anyone that makes sense, or would be of much consequence. If they could get Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, that’d be nice, but I doubt the Hornets want to give up too much.

4. Would this team make the playoffs if they acquire Lance Stephenson?

Searle: Let’s assume the Pacers trade Scola and Copeland for Lance. That trade makes the Pacers clearly better than Boston and Orlando. The only thing separating the Pacers from the glory of being the 8th seed in the worst NBA conference in 20 years would be the Brooklyn Nets. So yes, the odds of a Pacers playoffs berth look solid. Is that the best thing for the future of the franchise? On second thought, can the Pacers just put Lance on layaway until the summer?

Washburn: I don’t think so. Indiana is, simply, a really bad basketball team right now. Of course, the return of Lance and George Hill could potentially bring them into contention for one of the bottom two slots, but the East has actually improved and there just aren’t a lot of teams from night to night that the Pacers are better than.

Ochoa: I don’t think the Pacers will see the postseason this year.

Gibson: Consider that the Pacers are just barely losing games now, I’d think a reintegrated Lance Stephenson could have Indiana sniffing the No. 8 seed. Getting wins in the division would still be iffy.

5. What was the best Lance Stephenson moment in his time with the Pacers?

Searle: Without question, his 25-point outburst against the Knicks in Game 6 of the 2013 Eastern Conference semifinals. With the outcome in doubt, he scored 9 crucial points in the game’s final five minutes. While the rest of the Pacers looked passive as the game tightened up, Lance was ready (ahem, Born Ready) to step into the spotlight. Lance’s unshakable, often foolishly stubborn confidence often backfires, but Indiana likely would have lost that game without that maddening hubris.

Washburn: The game. His breakout performance against the Knicks in the 2013 Eastern Conference semi-finals really launched his “legacy” (if Lance has such a thing) in Indiana and really made Pacer fans start dreaming about the future.

Ochoa: One of my all-time favorite moments of Lance Stephenson’s career is when he dropped Courtney Lee with a spin move and step-back combo, knocked down the jumper and then did an awesome dance. His Sir Lance-A-Lot All-Star campaign was also incredible.

Gibson: WE HAVE TURBULANCE! It was Lance in a nutshell: A one-man fast break with questionable decision making — that actually worked.