"I'm staying with the Pacers."

[rock747]

“I don't think about that,” Stephenson said after matching his regular season career high with 22 points while hitting a career-high five three-pointers in seven attempts. “It's a long season, I'm not thinking nothing about contracts. I'm going to stay with the Pacers, so I'm not even thinking about the contract.”

Going to stay? Does that mean he would turn down a larger offer to re-sign?

“I'm staying with the Pacers,” he said.

http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/future-can-wait-stephenson-giving-pacers-great-present#.UnXSml73QG8.twitter

[presto123]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

I hope so. I used to have doubts about Lance, but my doubts have faded away for the most part. He even seems more mature this season.

[BobbyMac]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

Hope we all remember this when Lance hits a bit of a rough patch during the season.

[The Future]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

Make sure you put Lance Stephenson: before that quote

[Eleazar]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

Take this with a grain of salt. Any player with any sense of PR would say something to that affect. Even if he does mean it, which I don't doubt that he does want to stay, he could easily change his mind by the time summer comes around and he is getting offers from other teams. The only important thing he said is he isn't thinking about it, which is exactly what you want. Once players start thinking about their next contract while they are playing is when your players stop thinking team first, and start thinking me first.

[Sollozzo]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

Take this with a grain of salt. Any player with any sense of PR would say something to that affect. Even if he does mean it, which I don't doubt that he does want to stay, he could easily change his mind by the time summer comes around and he is getting offers from other teams. The only important thing he said is he isn't thinking about it, which is exactly what you want. Once players start thinking about their next contract while they are playing is when your players stop thinking team first, and start thinking me first.

Yeah, didn't Roy used to stay this sort of stuff a couple of years ago? Then we all saw how he was ready to bolt for Portland in a heartbeat if the Pacers wouldn't have ponied up the cash. Priorities change when the $$$$$$ becomes reality.

I don't doubt that Lance would prefer to stay here if all offers are equal. But make no mistake, he'll bolt in a heartbeat if someone is willing to give him more. He's been making absolute pennies by NBA standards while he's watched some teammates make double digit millions. It's finally going to be his time to cash in for himself and his family, and he will max it out as he should. This November quote is nice and all, but it will be meaningless in the off-season when teams are throwing money at him. Young dudes who are signing the first big contracts of their careers don't leave jack sitting on the table.

You can be happy anywhere if you're getting paid millions to play a child's game. These guys can get over leaving a place pretty easily.

[Eleazar]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

Young dudes who are signing the first big contracts of their careers don't leave jack sitting on the table.

I don't think that is 100% true, 99% true yes, but I don't think all players are only about the money. I just think it is a matter of degree. I don't think many would take a million or two less like older players might to be on a championship team. I can see players take 500k or 250k less in order to stay on a team that believed in him while everyone else passed on him, or in order to play on a team where he might play a bigger role, which could lead to a bigger contract down the line.

[aamcguy]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

This is good to hear. It sounds like he's going to let the Pacers play on some sort of restricted free agency with Lance. They'll negotiate directly with the Pacers, put out feelers for other teams that are interested, and they'll use what the other teams place his value at as a starting point for his negotiations with the Pacers.

[Lord Helmet]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

He'll stay if he is paid what he wants to be paid.

No doubt he prefers to stay here, though. Larry Bird and the Pacers believed in him when no one else did.

Plus Bird and him seem to be pretty close. When Bird was gone last year, he and Lance still exchanged text messages. He's Bird's boy, he ain't letting him go anywhere. Just hopefully we don't overpay.

[rm1369]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

Take this with a grain of salt. Any player with any sense of PR would say something to that affect. Even if he does mean it, which I don't doubt that he does want to stay, he could easily change his mind by the time summer comes around and he is getting offers from other teams. The only important thing he said is he isn't thinking about it, which is exactly what you want. Once players start thinking about their next contract while they are playing is when your players stop thinking team first, and start thinking me first.

I agree. However, it's still a pretty big positive, IMO. Considering that maturity has been the big question with Lance (remember the choke sign), having him provide a savvy, mature, team centric answer is just another good indication that he may be becoming a "pro". We've always knew he had significant talent. We are now are seeing him put it together on and off the court.

[Doddage]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

Plus Bird and him seem to be pretty close. When Bird was gone last year, he and Lance still exchanged text messages. He's Bird's boy, he ain't letting him go anywhere. Just hopefully we don't overpay.

Yep. I think Bird coming back is really the thing that makes Lance want to stay here, given the relationship between the two. Bird has believed in Lance since day one, despite any distractions occurring along the way. Having that type of presence, especially one the caliber of Larry, goes a long way.

[CableKC]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

I do not doubt that there is loyalty from Lance to the Pacers......if not mostly to Bird himself, but IMHO....everything comes down to $$$$.

Given that Lance will become a UFA in July 2014....what advantage does that Pacers have over other Teams to re-sign Lance ( if any )?

[aamcguy]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

I do not doubt that there is loyalty from Lance to the Pacers......if not mostly to Bird himself, but IMHO....everything comes down to $$$$.

Given that Lance will become a UFA in July 2014....what advantage does that Pacers have over other Teams to re-sign Lance ( if any )?

I honestly think that it's less a sentiment of loyalty and more that he likes playing for Vogel and with this team.

[Mad-Mad-Mario]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

I think all this means is that hes not going to want to leave as long as we are willing to pay him like other teams. Where as Gordon wanted to leave NO, so much that he didn't want them to match the Suns offer.

Good to hear. He probably recognizes what him and George can do the next couple years.

[CableKC]

Re: "I'm staying with the Pacers."

I honestly think that it's less a sentiment of loyalty and more that he likes playing for Vogel and with this team.

Could be...but the impression that I get is that Lance and Bird has a very strong "Father/Son" relationship ( in relation to Lance's NBA career ) citing the many times that Bird has praised Lance, his development and even when Bird was off during the Year the times he kept in touch with him. I wouldn't be surprised if Lance does re-sign with the Pacers that he immediately sites his relationship with Bird as one of the key factors as to why he chose to stay with the Team.