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NBA Rumors: Pacers’ Lance Stephenson to take a hit in free agency

By Andrew Melnick

Apr 19, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) plays defense against the Atlanta Hawks in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) plays defense against the Atlanta Hawks in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 19, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) plays defense against the Atlanta Hawks in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) plays defense against the Atlanta Hawks in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

An alleged fight between Indiana Pacers’ guards Lance Stephenson and Evan Turner only further damaged Stephenson’s reputation.

And it could cost him a few bucks, too.

According to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, Stephenson could take a hit in free agency.

"One league executive said the problems that have arisen—the public ones, remember, not the behind-the-scenes ones—with Stephenson will cut deep into his value on the free-agent market, and that a deal worth $7 million-$8 million per year is more likely to be Stephenson’s range now.“You hear things, for sure,” one general manager told Sporting News this week. “Stephenson is a guy who has talent, but if you have a young team and you’re building up a culture, you have to consider that before you pursue a guy who might affect your locker room negatively. You have to do your due diligence.“But that sort of thing is going to affect the market for him, for sure. If a guy has issues, you better know about them and you think twice about going after him.”"

Stephenson, who is said to be looking for a deal worth between $10-11 million per season.

Stephenson averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game this season.

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