Although this summer’s offseason was turbulent and we witnessed a lot of moves, it wasn’t that exciting for Lance Stephenson. He didn’t get any offers from NBA teams, so he decided to go overseas. The former Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers player agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Free agent guard Lance Stephenson has reached a one-year, $4 million agreement with Liaoning of the Chinese Basketball Association, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 1, 2019
Stephenson spent the previous season with the Lakers, averaging 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game over 68 games (three starts).
Stephenson still has a few good years ahead of him and certainly could be helpful to any NBA team, but obviously, he doesn’t want to wait for the second wave of free agency after failing to find a new club earlier this summer. That’s why he decided to go to China, as have many before him. Stephenson is versatile enough to play off the ball or handle it, and can successfully defend multiple positions, which makes him quite an asset.
Even though he could have been a reliable option off the bench in the NBA, Stephenson should now be a star in China for one campaign. He will surely be a massive hit in the Chinese league, and his potentially good performances will likely help in getting an NBA contract next season.
