Two years ago, Lance Stephenson was an intriguing free agent option. He had just exploded onto the scene with the Indiana Pacers as a potential x-factor. He was also a potential irritant to LeBron James and a potential distraction to his own team's goals. The Pacers balked at offering him an outrageous contract and seemingly out of spite, Stephenson joined the Charlotte Hornets on a flexible three-year deal. The third year of that deal was a team option for $9.4 million, but his play could potentially make that figure a steal for the 2016-17 season.
Fast-forward to present day and Stephenson has been traded twice and is now reportedly having his team option declined by the Memphis Grizzlies. He's had two horrendous seasons in a row, which prompted a trade from the Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers and then from the Clippers to the Grizzlies. Shams Charania of The Vertical says there is both interest for a return to the Grizzlies but also interest from other teams around the league.
Vertical Sources: Memphis has declined Lance Stephenson's $9.4M team option. He'll be free agent. Interest for return, interest elsewhere.
-- Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2016
It's amazing how far Stephenson has fallen, and yet because of the crazy money being thrown around this summer, it's not crazy to think he could end up getting a similar salary figure going into next season. So many teams have big cap space and they have to spend it somewhere. You could definitely do worse than Stephenson approaching that kind of money, as long as you leave yourself some outs with team options or non-guaranteed money after the first season.
For Stephenson, he has to find a way to have a positive impact on his team. He's been a historically bad shooter from outside since signing the deal and his stat-stuffing that used to be enticing is no longer viewed as a positive feat for him or the team. He needs to go back to being a controlled bit of chaos like he was for the Pacers. That Pacers team featured one of the most effective lineups in the NBA during his final season in Indiana, but now it's all been dismantled.
Roy Hibbert is a free agent after a horrible year with the Los Angeles Lakers. David West gave up over 80 percent of the money owed to him by the Pacers last year to sign a small deal with the San Antonio Spurs. He's now a free agent this summer. George Hill was just traded to the Utah Jazz. And coach Frank Vogel is now coaching the Orlando Magic. Only Paul George remains from that lineup and situation.
