We have finally found the solution to all the Mavs problems: Lance Stephenson.
On Monday morning, the Memphis Grizzlies declined his $9.4 million team option, making the fifth-year forward an unrestricted free agent.
The Dallas Mavericks should give him a max contract!
OK, no, not really, but he isn’t as bad an option as many would think. After the Grizzles fell victim to the injury bug late last season, they traded Jeff Green to the Los Angeles Clippers for the enigmatic forward and it worked out well for both parties. Stephenson went on to average14.2 points, 4.4 boards, 2.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 treys while shooting 47.4 percent from the field in his final 26 regular season games with Memphis.
While Stephenson’s first eight months with the Clippers were pretty underwhelming, at just 4.7 points and 2.5 points in 15.8 minutes a game, his late season revival with Memphis showed some positive signs. Couple that potential with a top-three coach in Rick Carlisle and “wa-lah!” you have the 2013-14 edition of Lance Stephenson that led the league in triple-doubles.
It could probably be assumed the Mavs would have some level of interest in him. Back in 2014, the team reportedly had a two-year verbal agreement in place with him in the event that the Houston Rockets failed to match the Mavs’ offer sheet for Chandler Parsons, but that didn’t happen and Stephenson ended up with the Charlotte Hornets.
Prioritized correctly, Stephenson may just be the bargain the Mavs are looking for – especially if they manage to land Hassan Whiteside and Mike Conley – and Parsons likely on his way out.
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