Stephenson, a 6-5, 210-pound guard, was the 40th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft.

The 2010 Big East Rookie of the Year from Cincinnati recently played for the Pacers’ summer league team in Orlando where in four games he was the Pacers’ second-leading scorer at 14.8 ppg.

He also led the eight-team Orlando summer league in field goal percentage at .733 (22-of-30) of those players with 10 or more field goal attempts, earning all-league honorable mention honors.

BRIGGS wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:he's a SG in a PG's body... why the team still looks for this role is BEYOND me

No he's a 2G but if this is all they could muster for a bench enhancement this is discouraging.

Agreed... I thought he was shorter than his listed height (6'5")... I thought he was 6'2"-3" for whatever reasom

CrushAlot wrote:It is sad that guys have to bypass guys because of youth and a need for guidance in the draft. Imagine if the Knicks felt comfortable enough with their organization and coach to make a different pick other than a 24 year old 4 year player. Stephenson is being compared to Tyreke Evans. Roger Mason would not be in the conversation if the Knicks went for the best available player. Character counts but it doesn't make up for a lack of physical ability and talent.
The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday they have signed second-round draft pick Lance Stephenson to a multi-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Stephenson, a 6-5, 210-pound guard, was the 40th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft.

The 2010 Big East Rookie of the Year from Cincinnati recently played for the Pacers’ summer league team in Orlando where in four games he was the Pacers’ second-leading scorer at 14.8 ppg.

He also led the eight-team Orlando summer league in field goal percentage at .733 (22-of-30) of those players with 10 or more field goal attempts, earning all-league honorable mention honors.

I've seen this guy play in person in street tournaments, he can play. A lil c0cky but can definitely score his @$$ off. He would kill andy rautins, sad to have passed up on, we need to stop worrying about attitudes and start drafting talent.

nixluva wrote:When you're building a team there are roles a GM n Coach look to fill and if you look at certain players that are on or have been on winning teams those players aren't always the most talented players. Guys like Paxson, Kerr or Derek Fisher. They fill a role perfectly and don't look to be more. They are perfect team players that help make it all work with much needed basic skills and intelligence.

Good teams like the Spurs know when to dump a player. He was bad last year and his production metrics are scary Y-Y for an older player. The Spurs went young there and dumped him--that tells you a bit. I'm very concerned with the talk about trading Chandler and the possible acquisition of this guy who is obviously on the way down. I want to try to win this year but without a strong bench enhancement as I anticipated --I may have to reconfigure my thought process on W's. We have two very very raw C's who might not be NBA players in 2010 I think they have locked in Rautins to a roster spot which he did not earn---we are lacking on the back end and in the enforcer dept. Love the top 5 but it really gets sketchy after that. Really thought we were going to do much more. The draft was only fair--I would say Landry fields let us escape an F grade but he's no lock for nBA playing time next year because of his jumpshot.

Let's talk about what Roger mason would mean to the Knicks...do they make a trade now? and for who??? Knicks probably need a center...who's available?

"Mason emerged as a deadly gunner off the bench and a dead-eye clutch shooter in his first season with the Spurs, but regressed in a major way over the course of the 09-10 season. Mason averaged 6.3 points last season, and made only a third of his shots from beyond the arc.

Everyone has focused on the big names available in free agency, but role players who can defend the rim on defense and stretch the floor on offense can be just as important to winning teams as their superstars. If Mason can snap out of the funk he was in last season, he could certainly be a very effective bench player on a contending team. If Mason's services come at a low enough price, he could end up being one of the steals of free agency. Again."

Donnie Walsh's job is to determine the exact reasons that caused Mason production to slip and make a decision based on the probability of corrections

Nice work if you can get it

Markji wrote:Why do we need Roger Mason if we have Bill Walker, Kalenna, Chandler, and Douglas (spot minutes) at the 2 guard? Something must be up. Either someone is injured and isn't expected to play(maybe Buike?) or a trade is going down soon (Bye Wilson). Other than that, we have depth and Roger Mason isn't that good.

Out of the 4 guys you listed only 1 is a true SG (Kaleena) and his is coming off of an injury. Walker is a question mark and a potential injury risk, and Chandler is coming off of injuries as well.