Lance Stephenson Wanted To Remain With Indiana Pacers

Lance Stephenson would have preferred to re-sign with the Indiana Pacers this offseason.

Lance Stephenson signed with the Charlotte Hornets this summer, but it doesn’t appear as if joining Kemba Walker and Co. was his first choice.

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RealGM is reporting that Stephenson wanted to remain a member of the Indiana Pacers and his representatives made a number of personnel suggestions that would have made it possible for Indy to remain him.

"Before Stephenson had committed to Charlotte, his representatives had recognized his successful growth with the Indiana Pacers and a desire to stay. Move a salary off the books, move a player here or there and keep your homegrown talent, Stephenson’s management team urged the Pacers’ front office. With the ability to shed part or all of Luis Scola’s and Donald Sloan’s contracts, people involved in negotiations brought up scenarios to remove those deals to create an increased Year 1 and Year 2 salary for Stephenson in a deal with Indiana. Suggestions went unanswered, without execution."

While Stephenson was surely not pleased with the Pacers for their unwillingness to give him what he believed to be a fair offer, it sure seems like a blessing in disguise at this point.

The Pacers’ days of contending in the short-term look to be over as a result of Paul George’s season-ending injury. It’s certainly possible that the Pacers don’t make the playoffs a year after entering them as the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed.

Charlotte, on the other hand, is primed for another trip to the playoffs with Walker, Stephenson and Al Jefferson leading the way.

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