Report: Pacers finalizing 3-year, $12M deal to bring back Lance Stephenson
The Indiana Pacers are finalizing a three-year, $12-million deal with swingman Lance Stephenson, league sources tell The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania.
The Pacers will reportedly hold an option for the third year of the contract.
Stephenson spent the first four seasons of his career with the Pacers, eventually becoming a valuable contributor during Indiana's back-to-back runs to the conference finals.
The 26-year-old's most memorable moment with the team likely came during Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference finals, when Stephenson blew in the ear of then-Miami Heat forward LeBron James.
Stephenson left the Pacers during the summer of 2014 after rejecting Indiana's five-year, $44-million offer, choosing to sign a three-year, $27-million contract with the Charlotte Hornets instead. The former second-rounder was traded to the Clippers the following offseason, splitting time between Los Angeles and the Memphis Grizzlies in 2015-16.
The 6-foot-5 swingman has appeared in 12 games for the New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves this season, averaging 6.6 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.3 rebounds on 47.4 percent shooting.
The Pacers have reportedly waived guard Rodney Stuckey, The Vertical confirmed, opening up a roster spot to sign Stephenson.