Seeing Lance Stephenson play for Tom Thibodeau isn’t something you know you want more than anything ever until it actually happens.
And, well, it’s about to happen.
From The Vertical’s Shams Charania:
Free-agent guard Lance Stephenson plans to sign a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources told The Vertical.
Stephenson is expected to provide depth and playmaking to a Timberwolves backcourt that lost guard Zach LaVine for the remainder of the season because of a torn ACL.
Stephenson entered his seventh NBA season in October on a partially guaranteed contract and made the New Orleans Pelicans’ roster out of training camp. He averaged 9.7 points, 4.8 assists and three rebounds in six games, but was released after undergoing groin surgery in November.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, to their credit, could use a little extra playmaking in the aftermath of Zach LaVine’s ACL injury. But while the free-agent market is pretty bare, Stephenson projects as an iffy fit.
LaVine is one of the most dangerous off-ball scorers in the game. Stephenson won’t come close to matching his potential as a spot-up shooter. He needs the ball in his hands, much like Ricky Rubio and Andrew Wiggins, so coach-president Thibs has only added to Minnesota’s skill-set overlap.
The best the Timberwolves can hope for is to see Stephenson drum up their defensive performance. They have been solid on the less glamorous end in recent weeks, and he can stick to most wing players without getting absolutely torched.
This is a low-risk deal no matter how you slice it anyway. The Timberwolves can sign Stephenson to a second 10-day deal while letting the buyout market unfold after the trade deadline, and then make a decision for the rest of the season.
