Born Again Ready: Lance Stephenson is Returning to the Indiana Pacers

Reports from multiple sources have the Indiana Pacers signing Lance Stephenson, bringing back the man known as Born Ready.

It is happening: Lance Stephenson is returning to the Indiana Pacers. Adam Zagoria reported the news first.

Yes, after a few years of people asking “Are the Indiana Pacers going to bring Lance Stephenson back?”, we finally don’t have to answer that question anymore.

It appears Godney Stuckey died so Lance Stephenson could be Born Ready again.

Either way, this is, for lack of a better word, interesting, if for no other reason than it is a three-year deal. It is only $4 million a season so it should have minimal impact on Indiana’s ability to sign free agents, but Stephenson’s last contract was a 10-day one, and he was cut after an injury earlier this season.

The question is are the Pacers getting a version of Lance we saw in an Indiana jersey, or one of the versions of himself since then?

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Lance Stephenson’s hustle and wingspan helped the Pacers defensively when he he was nearly an All-Star in 2014 with the Pacers. That season he averaged 13.8 points a game with Indiana.
One factor that could help a Lance resurgence is coach Nate McMillan. Being one of Frank Vogel’s assistants during those seasons, if anyone other than Frank is going to get Lance back it top form, Nate might have the best shot.Obviously, the Pacers are hoping to make Lance Stephenson great again, like he was when he wore a Pacers jersey.

But that’s three years ago. Since then, he hasn’t averaged double-digit points and struggled to stay with any one team. He flamed out with the Charlotte Hornets before making stops with the Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

It doesn’t help his shooting has suffered since leaving Indiana either, so he doesn’t fill in the role of a shooter that one might have expected Indiana to go after.

Next: Rodney Stuckey’s Body Stopped Him From Being Godney

This is a gamble, but they aren’t making a big bet either. If the Pacers get recent bench minutes out of Stephenson, then this bet will be worth it for Indiana.