5 Reasons why the Memphis Grizzlies should have kept Lance Stephenson

The Memphis Grizzlies have made plenty of brilliant decisions, but they should’ve done more to keep Lance Stephenson.

After a breakout year with Indiana in 2013-14, Lance Stephenson was set to become a star. He was flashy with his Rucker Park handles and juicy dishes. He collected triple doubles before they became a nightly occurrence. In addition, he antagonized the King with a sweet little blow to the ear.

However, after the season, he signed a three-year, $27M deal with the Charlotte Hornets and wasn’t the same. His jumper was historically terrible, and he just couldn’t fit alongside Kemba Walker – another ball-dominant guard. After just one season with the team, Stephenson was shipped to Los Angeles to play for the Clippers.

Stephenson only played half a season there, before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in a last-minute trade deadline deal. The cost for the Grizzlies? Jeff Green. What a time for Grizz fans.

The Grizzlies were undergoing some injury trouble with Marc Gasol and – eventually – Mike Conley and Mario Chalmers. Stephenson was given a chance at redemption, and he thrived. The flashy, aggressive Lance Stephenson from Indiana returned, and it was magical. For the first time in quite some time, someone other than Zach Randolph and Tony Allen ignited the crowd by simply playing with passion.

In Memphis, he averaged 14.2 points on 35.5 percent shooting from downtown, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. During the short-lived playoff run, he averaged 13 points on 40 percent shooting from deep, including a 26-point explosion in the elimination.

Unfortunately, the Grizzlies declined his $9M team option and let him walk. Quite frankly, that was the biggest mistake from last offseason. Sorry, Parsons haters.

Stephenson’s tenacity and fit would’ve allowed the Grizzlies to transition away from “Grit and Grind” without any issues.