Free agent Lance Stephenson may have to take his talents overseas.
Struggling to find a new home nearly six weeks into free agency, Stephenson, 25, might be better off signing a deal outside of the NBA.
From Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe:
One free agent who may have to head overseas is Lance Stephenson, whose option was not picked up by Memphis. It’s uncertain why the Grizzlies passed on Stephenson, who averaged 14.2 points and shot 47.4 percent from the field in 26 games after he was acquired from the Clippers. Stephenson has enough talent to help a contender, but the question is whether his quirky personality has scared off teams.
After what was a successful four-year stint with the Indiana Pacers, Stephenson ultimately turned down a five-year, $44 million offer from the team, later joining Charlotte on a three-year, $27 million deal. The goal for Stephenson was to take advantage of the NBA’s spiking cap by becoming a free agent in the summer of 2016 or 2017.
His tenure with the Hornets was short-lived, as he was later dealt to the Clippers for Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes. Eight months later, Stephenson’s on the move again, this time heading to Memphis.
The three-year deal originally agreed upon with Charlotte included a team option in the third year, which Memphis ultimately decided against picking up, allowing Lance to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Several players — From Timofey Mozgov (four-years, $64 million), to Ian Mahinmi (four-years, $54 million), and Jeff Green (one-year, $15 million) received hefty contracts in the NBA’s new era of money being tossed around in every which direction. For Stephenson, however, the decision to sign a shorter three-year deal in 2014 has seriously backfired.
Now without a home, it could be time for the most famous LeBron irritator to travel overseas to increase his value, and paychecks, further. Stephenson is eligible to receive a veteran’s minimum contract in the NBA but likely would seek more money in his new deal.
Stephenson averaged 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 69 games with Memphis and Los Angeles last season.
He finished the 2014-’15 season leading the league with five triple doubles, also finishing second in the Most Improved Player Award voting.
