Selective success is rare in the NBA, but for the Indiana Pacers, it’s a notable, recurring theme for one of their former players. Lance Stephenson, who has enjoyed two separate successful stints on varying degrees with the Blue and Gold, is once again eyeing a comeback.
Dubbed by many as “Born Ready”, the 12-year veteran is a beloved figure in Indianapolis, and for good reason. In one of the franchise’s best stretches in the early 2010s, Stephenson was a pivotal player for Indiana, oftentimes playing second or third fiddle to then-franchise player Paul George. While his game was still in the making, he was one of the leaders of those tough Pacers teams which flirted with the NBA Finals on multiple occasions.
Former Indiana Pacers cog Lance Stephenson is eyeing an NBA comeback
While his rising stock in the league came crashing after an unprecedented move to Charlotte started a game of hot potatoes where he bounced around the league, Stephenson reunited with the Blue and Gold before the 2016-17 season ended. His good stretch at that season’s end continued onto the next season, his final year with Indiana, where the Pacers overachieved with Victor Oladipo as the alpha guy and him as the de facto sixth man.
Born Ready has been out of the league for the past two seasons, but he’s reportedly conducting a private workout and some teams are expected to express interest. However, does it make sense for the Indiana Pacers to pursue Lance Stephenson for a third stint?
Why the Indiana Pacers should pursue Lance Stephenson
For some enigmatic reason, Lance Stephenson tends to perform well when donning the Blue and Gold. However, it’s not really rocket science. After all, the 30-year-old barely got any significant role sans his Indiana Pacers tenure.
On that merit alone, bringing back Stephenson, while heavily influenced by familiarity, is worth it. He won’t be banked on as much as in his previous two stints with the team, but in a limited role, he could really flourish as a do-it-all veteran who could be a reliable locker room presence. When injuries arise, he can assume a bigger role while possibly thriving as a secondary outlet to set up the offense and a pesky perimeter defender.
In his last full season with the Lakers in 2018-19, he was only tabbed for a meager 16.5 minutes per game, but he still managed to make the most out of his minutes by logging 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per outing. Better yet, he finished that season with a 37.1 percent clip on triples, easily his best in a full campaign.
It’s not game-changing, but Stephenson still has something to give. His abilities may have waned over the years, but given the right role, he could flourish and be beneficial for the team. Not only that, but his familiarity with the organization and postseason experience should bode well for the reeling Pacers.
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.
Should the Indiana Pacers bring Lance Stephenson back?
While many say that familiarity breeds strategy, the truth is that it’s a double-edged sword. Embracing what worked in the past as Indiana transitions to a new period may just be counterintuitive.
For all the goodness that Lance Stephenson has been donning the Blue and Gold, his skillset is just not what the Indiana Pacers need at the present. There are a lot more pressing matters that the team needs to solve before even considering to bring him back which, given the team’s wing depth, is more of a luxury that will only give fans some air of sentimentality, without much sense to back it up.
With the team keen on retaining as much flexibility as possible for the future as much as in the present, paving a roster spot for someone who can develop still or help the team with more immediacy is the better route to take. Thus, Stephenson gunning for teams with lesser margin of errors will surely benefit both him and Indy.
Pacers fans, including this one, will always be grateful for his frenetic play and the jolt of excitement that he brought to the program in two separate stints. However, with both sides clearly rubbing against each other direction-wise, rolling back the tape on a reunion is far from ideal.