Lance Stephenson agrees to 3-year deal with Hornets

Free agent Lance Stephenson has signed a three-year deal with Charlotte after not being close in negotiations with the Indiana Pacers.

One of the most intriguing young free agents in the class, Lance Stephenson, has inked his new deal with the Charlotte Hornets, coming to terms on a three-year, $27 million contract with a team option in the third year, according to the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell.

Stephenson, who was dratfted 40th overall in 2010 by the Indiana Pacers, is rare in that he's only 23-years-old and a borderline All-Star. He was heavily criticized in the 2013-14 playoffs for his theatrics and antics, but few 23-year-olds are as talented as Stephenson. He has the ability to get to the rim, he can act as a point guard and he's a pesky defender.

Charlotte could really use an upgrade at shooting guard. Gerald Henderson tried to be a jack of all trades, attempting to do everything well, but ended up doing nothing above average, making him a largely inefficient guard. Stephenson is no knockdown three-point shooter, but he should give the Honrets a third major scoring threat with Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker already in place. Though Walker has tried to break down defenses by himself for a while, now he has some help on the wing in Stephenson, who can drive to the hoop and is one of the best guards finishing there.

The Pacers offered Stephenson a five-year, $44 million contract and also put another option on the table. But according to the Indianapolis Star's Candace Buckner, the offers Indiana gave Stephenson didn't suit him, even though it was for the long-term and worth nearly as much as his deal with Charlotte.

Per his agent, #Pacers offered Lance two deals. Both for 5 years, but Lance's side wanted shorter term

— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) July 16, 2014

"...But you don’t want to take a little bit less and play your entire basketball prime, the next five years for a lower amount of money."

— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) July 16, 2014

Charlotte signs Stephenson after first offering swingman Utah Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward an offer sheet for four years and $63 million. Utah matched the offer for the restricted free agent.

ESPN reports that Stephenson would have signed a two-year, $20 million offer from the Dallas Mavericks had Mark Cuban's team not inked Houston Rockets swingman Chandler Parsons. The restricted free agent signed a three-year, $46 million deal with the Mavs that the Rockets did not match.

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