First the Indiana Pacers let Lance Stephenson get away and go to a lesser team in the Charlotte Hornets. Now, President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird has further complicated matters and made matters worse for himself by going after someone who isn’t as good as the player the Pacers let walk.
The Pacers are reportedly targeting a new addition from the Detroit Pistons in guard Rodney Stuckey. Stuckey has had shooting problems, shooting only 27 percent from downtown last season. The contract with the Pacers is reported to be only a one-year deal at the minimum salary. Bird can thank his lucky stars on that because he got lucky to pick up a free agent off the street for so cheap – usually teams can’t get so lucky in the NBA.
Stuckey will likely get the nod from head coach Frank Vogel to replace Stephenson in the starting lineup. The Pacers are still going to have to rely on their bench, however, because Stuckey likely won’t have enough firepower to replace the now-departed Stephenson. Pacers guard Donald Sloan will likely agree with that after telling JeremiahBoyce.com last week that “It’d be good to go to the bench early in the year, so late in the year it’s a lot easier to throw them out there.”
It’s understandable why Indiana had to let Stephenson walk, because they are millions over the NBA’s salary cap. Only time will tell how Bird’s new adjustment will fit in with some of the returning Blue and Gold members. It won’t be easy, but like all new teammates, he will learn the new offense with time. Hopefully, the new Pacers will gel with the veterans and they will return to the Eastern Conference Finals.
