Lance Stephenson was recently signed by the New Orleans Pelicans to a one-year, veteran's minimum deal and is expected to revive his drifting career with the team in the upcoming season.
Yahoo Sports reported that the Pelicans has "agreed to a contract" with the 26-year-old wing man after the Memphis Grizzlies opted out of his deal's team option at the end of last season. He played the first 43 games of 2015-2016 for the Los Angeles Clippers before he was traded to the Grizzlies in February, suiting up his remaining 26 games in Memphis.
Stephenson averaged a career-high 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 26.6 minutes of playing time per night with the Grizzlies during that 26 appearances, which indicates that he can still contribute at a high level in the right environment.
The former Cincinnati Bearcats standout was a key role player with the Indiana Pacers during his first four years in the league before his on and off court antics rumored to have irritated team president Larry Bird as he was allowed to leave the squad.
Stephenson chose to enter unrestricted free-agency in the summer of 2014 rather than signing an extension with the Pacers when he eventually joined the Charlotte Hornets in a three-year, $27 million contract.
However, his career and effectiveness were never the same as his numbers dropped since then.
Basketball Insiders indicated that the coming season could be a "new life" for Stephenson after the Pelicans took a gamble in signing him to the one-year deal.
While analysts and team supporters may find his signing "easy to not like", according to the report, "it is one that could pay dividends for a franchise that has failed in its attempt to take flight".
The article noted that Stephenson's "talent is obvious", but he has not been having the right team environment in recent years. It went on to say that "when under control, he can be an effective two-way player whose contributions can be felt across the stat sheet".
He is an above average wing defender and scorer and also has "remarkable vision" at his position. If the Pelicans end up being "the right teammates, the right situation" for Stephenson, then this coming season could be the breakthrough year he had been waiting for.
