Rumor: Pacers Interested in Signing Free Agent Lance Stephenson

The last time Lance Stephenson was on the Indiana Pacers, the team went to back-to-back Eastern Conference finals and now Larry Bird may be looking to reacquire the Brooklyn native.

Lance Stephenson has had a tumultuous, mostly disappointing, time in the NBA since leaving the Indiana Pacers. But a new report says that both he and his former team are interested in putting him back into a blue and gold jersey.

According to Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star, the Pacers “have shown interest in a reunion.”

The interest is apparently mutual. Taylor elaborated in a column for the Indianapolis Star, noting that “the Pacers are one of the few teams that Stephenson is considering.”

"As Larry Bird continues to revamp the Indiana Pacers’ roster this offseason, his next move could be the return of a player who previously flourished under his watch: Lance Stephenson.Stephenson has discussed the possibility of agreeing to a multi-year deal with the Pacers, a league source confirmed to the IndyStar. Stephenson, a combo guard who became an unrestricted free agent last week after Memphis declined his team option, is open to returning to the Pacers next season.“That’s home for him,” the source said of what Indianapolis means to Stephenson. “He absolutely loves the town and the organization.”The Pacers are one of the few teams that Stephenson is considering after the first three days of the NBA’s free agency period. He also has interest in possibly re-signing with the Grizzlies, who acquired him in February before the trade deadline."

Since the initial report broke, more news have developed about Stephenson being open to a return.

The guard spoke with Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports and personally stated his interest in a return to Indiana. “I’m just waiting for the call,” Lance told Agness.

His agent said the same.

"“If (given) a chance I would love to come back home,” Stephenson told VigilantSports.com Monday.He is well aware of Pacers fans and how receptive they are to the possibility of him once again playing for the Blue & Gold. Six of the last eight tweets that he has “Liked” on Twitter, including the most recent four, are all related to the Pacers.“We will see what happens. I’m just waiting for the call,” he said.There are currently “a solid group of teams” that have shown interest in him four days into NBA free agency. The biggest thing Lance needs — and he knows this — is stability. After four seasons in Indy, in an environment that fit him well, Stephenson has suited up for three teams over the last two seasons.“Our number one priority is finding the right fit for him,” his agent, Al Ebanks, wrote to VigilantSports.com in a text message. “Lance still has close friends there and would absolutely be open to that. He loved his time there and has always been grateful for all the support he has gotten from Pacers fans over the years.”"

Stephenson left Indiana as a free agent in the summer of 2014 to sign a deal with the Charlotte Hornets. Based on various reports, Lance left a lot of guaranteed money on the table when he decided to put on a new jersey, and his performance in that season made the move look like an even worse idea.

He went from a starter on a team that made back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals — while getting some All-Star buzz in his final year — to mostly coming off the bench and even falling out of the Hornets’ rotation.

Though there were rumors about an Indiana return before the All-Star break, Charlotte ended up dealing him to the Clippers after one full season. Michael Jordan’s team was so unenthused by Stephenson’s play that they moved him for two bit players in Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes.

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The Clippers never had much use for Lance either, however.

The Clippers proved a poor fit as well, and — despite more rumors of a Pacers return — Los Angeles GM Doc Rivers shipped Stephenson to the Memphis Grizzlies for Jeff Green at the trade deadline. Lance was now on his fourth team in roughly 20 months.

The Brooklyn native did turn things around in Memphis.

With most of the team’s top players hurt, Stephenson had freedom. There were lowlights along with the highlights — he’s never not Lance Stephenson — but his 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, in just 27 minutes a night, showed that he was still capable of producing in the right role. It was only for 26 games, but he looked like he may still be able to put some of the skills he showed in his Pacers days to good use.

Would that be the case in Indiana again?

Larry Bird already has a large — and many would say too-large — collection of ball-dominant non-shooters on the perimeter. Between Jeff Teague, Monta Ellis, and Rodney Stuckey, is there really any need for another player with a similar skill of creating, dribbling, and getting into the lane?

Of course, Bird might not be done making moves.

Rumors swirled on Saturday about the Pacers trying to acquire Rudy Gay (who also can’t really shoot from deep, but whatever). And the Teague and Thaddeus Young trades, in addition to signing Al Jefferson, show just how active Bird has been this offseason.

In short, a Lance reunion makes some sentimental sense. And there is the possibility it could work out great if Indiana could sign a lowly coveted player with immense talent to a team-friendly contract. Lance has thrived next to Paul George — why can’t that happen again?

But given the current roster construction, it doesn’t seem to make a ton of stylistic sense.

Then again, nothing about Lance’s career has made much sense. So why buck the trend? There is no question that Stephenson could bring some entertainment, for better or worse, back to The Fieldhouse.