Lance Stephenson
As I said in a recent Clipperholics round table discussion on the free agency moves of last summer, I loved Lance Stephenson.
He was inconsistent, yes, but he came in with the right attitude and when he was on form, he flat out balled. Just before his move to Memphis, I thought to myself, if he goes for anyone apart from Rudy Gay or Jeff Green, I will not be happy. As it turns out, I wish they’d kept Lance!
$9 million a year was way too much money to be paying for someone who was as inconsistent and erratic as Lance could be, but if there is a way to get him on a minimum contract, while using him in the utility, jack-of-all-trades role that Doc originally had in store for him? That may well be one of the bargains of free agency.
The reason the Lance Stephenson experiment failed was not down to Lance; it was down to Doc. One night he played him 30 minutes, the next he played two. Lance is the type of guy who wants to be in a situation where he is appreciated and used consistently, and that is the textbook definition of mixed messages from Doc.
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In his final eight games for the Clippers (including two DNPs), he shot 73.7 percent and virtually won a road game against Orlando singlehandedly. Even from such a small sample size, this is why I was sad to see him depart, and why I’d love to see him return.
During that 10-game spell, he averaged 8.3 points, three boards and one assist in only 16.1 minutes a night. That is a very solid contribution.
Beyond that small sample size, Lance had a refreshing spell of play in the freedom he found with 26 games in Memphis. In 26.6 minutes per game, he averaged 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.7 steals, and shot 47.4 percent with a 35.5 percent three-point shot.
Stephenson is familiar with the Clippers organisation, he’s played with the side before (albeit in a varying role), it is virtually the same side that he left and there was talk when he was traded that the Clippers would try and re-sign him at a lower price in the summer.
Next: What can we expect from Brice Johnson next season?
If Doc played him consistently in the versatile backup role, playing anything from point guard to power forward in short bursts, he could produce and contribute for the Clippers. And if they can’t get Gerald Green, I’d love to have one more nostalgic dance with Lance.