Rodney Stuckey, Indiana Pacers agree on one-year deal
For the first time in his professional career, guard Rodney Stuckey will be suiting up for a team other than the Detroit Pistons. According to Sam Amick of The USA Today, he has agreed to a one-year deal with the Indiana Pacers.
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Stuckey, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Pistons, had had a solid NBA career and is coming off another productive season. The Pistons decided not to bring Stuckey back and instead agreed to deals with former Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Jodie Meeks and former Washington Wizards’ swingman Cartier Martin.
Stuckey’s versatility is one of his selling points – he is what is considered a combo guard with the ability to play both point guard and shooting guard, although he doesn’t excel at either. He will likely be at his best if he comes off the bench at both positions, but he will like be asked to fill in as both a scorer and a facilitator much like the role Lance Stephenson played for the Pacers last season. Stephenson, of course, signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
Stuckey averaged 13.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 43.6% from the field, 27.3% from beyond the arc and 83.6% from his charity stripe last season. Stuckey was originally selected with the 15th-overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Pistons with a pick that was acquired from the Orlando Magic in the Darko Miličić deal. In career, Stuckey has averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 42.3% from the floor, 28.6% from beyond the arc and 82.8% from the free throw line.