Welcome back Lance: Stephenson's 3-year odyssey returns him to Indy

At this rate, Lance Stephenson should have just signed the reported five-year, $44-million deal the Indiana Pacers offered him to remain with the club in 2014.

After a zigzag route around the continent, Stephenson is reportedly close to returning to the Pacers. He will sign a three-year, $12-million contract with a team option, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday.

Instead of staying with the Pacers in 2014, Stephenson - who was an unrestricted free agent at the time, having been selected in the second round four years earlier - signed with the Charlotte Hornets for three years and $27 million.

Because the third year wasn't guaranteed, he ended up playing this season for the New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves for a combined $244,000 - although for 12 games' work, few normal people would complain.

The journey began with a career 2013-14 season in Indy. Stephenson led the NBA that year with seven triple-doubles (since then he's had two). His highlight of the season, however, was blowing into LeBron James' ear in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Now, as he comes full circle, here are the highlights (and lowlights) of his stops in between:

Charlotte Hornets, 2014-15

A little too much hype seemed to accompany the Hornets' signing of Stephenson, something his poor start didn't help. He ended up shooting 37.6 percent from the floor that season - including an atrocious 17.1 percent from deep - and averaged just 8.2 points in 61 games.

Watch: Lance Stephenson has an interesting pregame dance

To be fair, he missed several contests with a pelvic injury. His coach, Steve Clifford, had some biting words, however.

"He's not a star," Clifford said.

Los Angeles Clippers, 2015-16

With the Hornets' locker room - not unlike the Pacers' before it - reportedly fed up with Stephenson, Charlotte traded the still high-upside wing to the Los Angeles Clippers in the summer of 2015. He never fit into Doc River's rotation.

Memphis Grizzlies, 2016

Dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies at the 2015-16 trade deadline, Stephenson would put together one of the best statistical runs of his career: 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 47.4 percent shooting in 26 games.

Still, the stretch came with its share of "Lance" moments:

Memphis declined the final option on his contract.

New Orleans Pelicans, 2016

Stephenson only played six games for New Orleans, suffering a groin injury and getting waived in November.

Minnesota Timberwolves, 2017

In two 10-day contracts with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Stephenson was best remembered for this wipeout - although even he had a laugh about it.

What's next? The Pacers are fighting for playoff seeding, but more than a few NBA observers would like to see Stephenson face off against James again.