Stephenson regrets ever leaving Pacers, agent says
Lance Stephenson hasn't been the same player since leaving the Indiana Pacers as a free agent in 2014.
He'd been a borderline All-Star during the 2013-14 season, and the Pacers made a genuine effort to retain him that summer, offering a five-year contract worth $44 million. Stephenson turned it down in the hopes of finding something richer, but wound up settling for a three-year, $27-million deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
He lasted just one woeful season in Charlotte, and acquired journeyman status seemingly overnight. He's played for five NBA teams in the past three years. Now that he's rejoining the Pacers, Stephenson's agent says his client regrets leaving in the first place.
"If Lance had to do it all over again, he wouldn't have left the Pacers," Mark Bartelstein told Nate Taylor of the Indy Star. "You don't often get a second chance and Lance knows that and is really appreciative and grateful for that."
Stephenson's return was apparently facilitated by continuing communication between the Pacers' front office - specifically team president Larry Bird - and Stephenson's camp throughout his three years in the wilderness.
"They did a great job of staying connected and letting us know their interest," Bartelstein said. "You always want to go where you're wanted and I think Larry and (general manager) Kevin (Pritchard) were so consistent in telling us that (and) it led us to today. ...
"When Larry believes in you, he's always going to be a fan and he doesn't hold grudges."