With their final roster spot, Pelicans show faith in onetime Pacers mainstay

New Orleans keep Lance Stephenson on their final roster, waiving Alonzo Gee

Since leaving the Indiana Pacers as a free agent in 2014, Lance Stephenson has made stops in Charlotte, Los Angeles and Memphis but never carved out a niche and found himself with virtually no suitors in free agency this past summer.

Stephenson was contemplating accepting offers to play overseas. But the New Orleans Pelicans offered Stephenson a largely non-guaranteed contract in early September. The low-risk move meant the Pelicans could cut him with little financial loss if he didn't play well in training camp and the preseason. In the end, Stephenson beat out Alzono Gee, who was cut Monday to make room for onetime borderline All-Star on the final roster.

Stephenson provides the Pelicans much-needed playmaking, which is lacking while Tyreke Evans (injured) and Jrue Holiday (personal reasons) are out.