NBA Rumors: Lance Stephenson to work out for Pelicans

NBA veteran shooting guard Lance Stephenson is reportedly going to work out with the New Orleans Pelicans. He last played for the 2015-16 Memphis Grizzlies.

According to New Orleans Pelicans beat writer for the New Orleans Advocate, “free agent Lance Stephenson will work out for the Pelicans.”

New Orleans may have drafted the best pure shooter in the 2016 NBA Draft class in Oklahoma Sooners star guard Buddy Hield, but the Pelicans have to be in the market for players to help them offensively.

The Pelicans lost two key scorers for them in Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson to the Southwest Division rival Houston Rockets in 2016 NBA free agency. Stephenson might only be a career .308 shooter from three-point land in his career, but did have a great year behind the arc in 2015-16 with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies. Stephenson shot a combined .385 from three and .481 from the field in 69 games.

While Stephenson didn’t seem to have a role with the 2015-16 Clippers, he proved to be a valued commodity down the stretch for Dave Joerger’s injury-riddled Grizzlies. With Stephenson still being a free agent, there was a strong chance he could re-join Joerger with the 2016-17 Sacramento Kings.

Stephenson will only be 26 years old this upcoming NBA season. Though he hasn’t found the same success on the hardwood he displayed while he was with the Indiana Pacers from 2010 to 2014, Stephenson could end up being an important role player for Alvin Gentry’s Pelicans should he sign with New Orleans.

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The Pelicans have one of the thinnest rosters in the NBA and injuries to key players have made it hard for New Orleans to stay competitive in the deep Western Conference. He probably won’t start for New Orleans should sign with the Pelicans, but could be a key reserve for them.