Lance Stephenson Agrees to Contract with Lakers After LeBron James Deal
July 2, 2018
Lance Stephenson is changing uniforms once again.
ESPN's Chris Haynes reported on Sunday the eight-year veteran has agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. That comes after the Indiana Pacers declined his $4.4 million team option in June.
The news came just hours after LeBron James agreed to sign a four-year, $154 million deal with the Lakers, as Klutch Sports Group announced on Twitter.
After being drafted in the second round of the 2010 NBA draft, Stephenson made a name for himself in four seasons in Indiana. He then signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets, which started his tour around the league.
From 2014 to 17, the 27-year-old played for six different teams, which resulted in a return to Indiana.
The 6'6", 230-pound guard seemed right at home during his second stint with the Pacers. Last season, he averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 22.6 minutes per game. He averaged 10.4 points on 46.2 percent shooting in a first-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
That comes following a season in which he played in just 18 games across three teams.
Now, Stephenson will try to prove he can fit in with a team other than the Pacers. For all of his antics through the years, it's important to remember he was once a key component for a team that was annually an Eastern Conference contender.