Should the Indiana Pacers bring Lance Stephenson back for a third stint

Why the Indiana Pacers should not pursue Lance Stephenson

In terms of money, bringing Stephenson aboard once more will not hurt as he’s projected to garner nothing more than the vet minimum. For a third-stringer and an emergency player, landing him will not be that difficult. However, the elephant in the room is whether he still warrants a legitimate opportunity in the NBA.

With the team’s abundance or maybe even an influx in talented wings, bringing Lance back doesn’t make a ton of sense. By recently pulling the qualifying offer on Cassius Stanley (subscription required), the Pacers are making it clear that they’re keen on fortifying a position of need, and the wing spot isn’t exactly a point of weakness for Indy to rectify.

Also, Stephenson’s eccentricities on and off the court may be the last thing that the Pacers need, especially with the team coming off a season full of uncharacteristic turbulence. It also doesn’t help his case that newly installed coach Rick Carlisle, while mostly favoring veterans, is known for his odium with needless antics which, for Lance, is a defining feature of his basketball personality.