With free agency underway, the rumors are starting to circulate about the Los Angeles Lakers and players the team may be interested in. One of those players appears to be Lance Stephenson, according to ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard:
Sources: L Stephenson & Pacers at impasse. Indy offers 5 yrs/$44 mill. Lance wants more, will talk to others. Chi, LAL, Hornets interested.
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 2, 2014
The Indiana Pacers have expressed interest in retaining Stephenson after another solid season with the team, but as Broussard reports the two sides are at an “impasse” in contract negotiations.
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With the Pacers and Stephenson struggling to see eye-to-eye on a new deal, teams like the Lakers will have shot to give him their sales pitch. Although the Lakers appear interested in acquiring Stephenson’s services, the storied franchise is putting all efforts into signing LeBron James and or Carmelo Anthony.
Considering the fact that the team is concentrating on locking up the two biggest names on the free agent market, it remains to be seen how serious they are in pursuing Stephenson. The 23-year-old might not be an elite free agent, but it would be safe to say that other teams like the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets might be able to swoop in and sign the versatile guard before the Lakers have a chance to talk to him.
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