Lance Stephenson leaves Indiana for 3-year deal with Hornets

The annual compensation was similar. If Indiana was ready to give Stephenson a five-year deal, Bird likely would have matched the terms of the contract he would eventually sign in Charlotte. For Stephenson, this wasn’t about money as much as it was a chance to grow as a player. It seems pretty obvious now that Stephenson didn’t want to be in Indiana as badly as the team’s front office wanted him to remain.

David West (left) and Paul George (right), Photo credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images

Insulted by what he felt was a low-ball offer from Indiana, Lance Stephenson is no longer a Pacer, according to the Raleigh News-Observer. The controversial guard will sign with the Charlotte Hornets on a three-year deal worth roughly $27 million, the last year being a team option.

Stephenson decided to look around after he felt disrespected by the Pacers’ offer, which was for five years and $44 million. The Hornets deal only offers $200,000 more per year ($9 million to $8.8 million), and it has less security and less guaranteed money. Perhaps Stephenson was thinking he could get a new, bigger contract sooner with potentially more lenient salary cap rules under the new collective bargaining agreement. Still, it’s a risk.

The interest in Stephenson, who may be on his way out of Indiana, is amusing because of his history with Miami. Stephenson first made headlines against the Heat when he taunted them by making a choking signal during the 2012 postseason.

This past year in the Eastern Conference Finals, Stephenson did all he could to try and get under Miami’s skin. Especially James: