Would Pacers Players Welcome Back Lance Stephenson?

Lance Stephenson is on the trade block, according to various NBA reporters who have written about the Charlotte Hornets desire to rid themselves of their highest-profile free-agent signing this offseason. Those same reporters have listed the Indiana Pacers as among the teams that have had talks with the Hornets about a deal.

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The speculation reached such heights that the team’s owner — the rarely heard Herb Simon — said he would “O.K.” the mercurial guard returning to the team if his basketball executives wanted to make a move for Stephenson.

So the top boss has given approval.

But would the Indiana Pacers players, some of whom reportedly grew tired of Lance’s antics at times last year? And most importantly, would Larry Bird reacquire Lance Stephenson?

A phenomenal breakdown by Scott Agness at his Vigilant Sports site adds some insight about how the team would react to Lance returning to the locker room.

"Obviously, the concern is how the players would feel. One player did not think it would be a big deal. He called Lance “one of the funniest teammates I’ve ever had,” then joked that his rebounding numbers would surely dip. Stephenson, who was always well-aware of his stat line, had built a reputation for stealing rebounds."

Here is more nuance from Agness.

"Monday, I talked with a handful of players who were on the team last year. None of them objected, and they were interested in the validity of the report.The basketball side of the organization has great leadership, from owner Herb Simon to Bird, Vogel, and down to the players. They could make it work. Players agreed that too much was made of Hibbert not getting along with Stephenson.The players, too, know Stephenson’s personality and his act, if you will. Realistically, he’s probably not understood in the Hornets locker room. Meanwhile, the Pacers get him."

Local radio host and Fieldhouse PA announcer Michael Grady reported some thoughts from George Hill yesterday.

He added the following later about Hill’s comment.

And here is what Grady tweeted about Vogel.

With the “read between the lines” comment, Grady seems to be insinuating that Hill might be opposed to Lance returning.

The larger impediment to a Lance Stephenson return, however, would be Larry Bird. Would Bird — who set a financial line in the sand during negotiations that ultimately failed last summer — be willing to let Lance come home?

Agness wrote the following.

"Bird was loyal to Stephenson over the years. He stuck by him. But he is known for holding grudges, and it seems like Stephenson crossed the line when he did not take Bird’s advice during the playoffs, in regards to toning down the antics, and then in looking elsewhere last July.It’s unclear how Bird currently feels about Stephenson. (One thing was odd at Monday night’s game. Bird was not in his usual seat in the second row by the Pacers’ bench. I didn’t see him all game, and those I asked weren’t sure where he was.)Bird said after last season that he regretted his handling of Stephenson.“I think one of the problems this year is I didn’t spend enough time with Lance,” Bird said in June. “I was gone a year. I came back. He had a good year. I just told him that I wasn’t going to bother him all year. I texted him a few times and we talked about the game but I left him alone, and I think that’s a mistake on my part.”Talking to team officials, the feeling is that they would be willing to take Stephenson back — only if a compelling enough deal can be agreed upon. They can be patient, sit back and listen to what Charlotte is ante up in exchange for getting him out of their hair."

The worst rumors about turmoil in the Pacers locker room last season were probably overblown. There was certainly some instances of different players rubbing each other the wrong way — and Lance was certainly a factor in that.

Was a bond severed that is irreparable? Or was this all family-infighting stuff that will be water under the bridge now that both sides have seen how much worse things have gotten since they parted ways?

Could the team welcome back Lance Stephenson?