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Indiana Pacers decline Lance Stephenson’s team option

By Ben Gibson

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 29: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers tries to get around Lance Stephenson #1 of the Indiana Pacers during the first half in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 29, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 29: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers tries to get around Lance Stephenson #1 of the Indiana Pacers during the first half in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 29, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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The Indiana Pacers declined Lance Stephenson’s team option for the upcoming season, freeing up $4.3 million in cap space.

Lance Stephenson is no longer with the Pacers and is now a free agent. The Indiana Pacers declined his team option for the upcoming season, saving them $4.3 million in cap space.

It looks like the days of the air banjo are over in Indiana. The days of Born Ready are gone. Lance will no longer be Lance for the Pacers.

The news was first reported by Yahoo Sports’ Shams Charania.

Stephenson is a fan favorite in Indiana but the team is clearing out as much cap space as possible it appears — at least after letting Bojan Bogdanovic stay, assumedly.

Stephenson had his moments with Indiana last season, but ultimately the numbers say he was a negative factor. However, it’s hard to deny the passion and intensity he brought to the Pacers.

Along with the news of letting Lance Stephenson walk, ESPN’s Chris Haynes is reporting that Will Barton and Tyreke Evans are the Pacers’ targets in free agency.

So when Kevin Pritchard said that there was a core from last season that he planned on bringing back, it is clear now that Stephenson isn’t part of it. And with Thaddeus Young’s contract still in the balance, it’s hard to know if he will be part of it, either.

With Lance’s second departure from Indiana, no player is left in from the Blue Collar, Gold Swagger days. Though this was Stephenson’s second tenure with the Pacers, he took that torch from Paul George when he left last summer.

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All these moves could mean Kevin Pritchard is going to be very aggressive in free agency and the trade market, but for now, all it means if Indiana has cap space to spare.

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