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Report: Stephenson to work out for Pelicans

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans are providing Lance Stephenson with a potential opportunity to crack their roster for the 2016-17 regular season.

The 25-year-old swingman will work out for the team in the near future, a league source told the New Orleans Advocate's Brett Dawson.

The Memphis Grizzlies declined Stephenson's $9.4-million team option, making him an unrestricted free agent. He's seen less interest than expected from NBA teams, though, and playing overseas is reportedly an option should Stephenson remain without a home.

Working out for the Pelicans doesn't imply that there's a deal in place, but should Stephenson impress, he could find himself with a training-camp invite, at the very least.

It seems like just yesterday that Stephenson was the talk of the town in Indiana, putting up sensational numbers of 13.8 points on 49.1 percent shooting, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists during his fourth year with the Pacers. Since then, he's bounced around from the Charlotte Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers, ending last season by playing 26 games for Memphis

Stephenson did find new life during his short stint with the Grizzlies, putting up 14.2 points in 26.6 minutes off the bench.

New Orleans lost Eric Gordon to the Houston Rockets this summer on a four-year, $53-million contract, but had an contingency plan in place by drafting Buddy Hield out of Oklahoma sixth overall. A returning Tyreke Evans, who missed all but 25 games last season, will also soak up minutes at the two spot.

Stephenson has played most of his minutes at small forward, and could carve out a consistent role for himself at a position where the Pelicans don't have much depth - Dante Cunningham, Quincy Pondexter, and Alonzo Gee are all easily replaceable.

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