Matthew Glenesk

matthew.glenesk@indystar.com

There was a lot of buzz when Lance Stephenson left the Indiana Pacers this offseason for a 3-year, $27 million free agent deal with the Charlotte Hornets.

A polarizing figure among the Pacers' fan base, many were sad to see what looked like a burgeoning star walk for free.

Others were happy to see Lance become someone else's headache.

This season, Pacers, mired with injuries and a depleted lineup, have scrapped their way to a 7-10 record (8th in the East), while the revamped Hornets are a dismal 4-14.

So much for Charlotte being an Eastern contender. So far, the Hornets only know Bad Lance.

The former Pacers guard is averaging 9.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. So statistically speaking, he's not having a terrible season, but Grantland's Zach Lowe writes the Stephenson Experiment doesn't seem to be working in Charlotte.

And while players signed this offseason can't be traded for another two weeks, Lowe says he wouldn't be surprised if Charlotte starts to shop their big money free agent prize.

The Hornets are searching for upgrades on the wing and at power forward, per those sources, and they are willing to talk turkey on basically anyone other than Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson. Free agents signed this past offseason can't be traded until December 15, and few would be surprised if the Hornets make and take calls on Lance Stephenson ahead of that trigger date.

The Hornets viewed Stephenson as a dose of perimeter dynamism for a plodding offense built around Walker's pick-and-roll work and Professor Al's post-up trickery. The 2013-14 version of that offense didn't really have a third leg — a creative off-the-dribble threat waiting on the weak side when smart defenses snuffed out the good stuff. Stephenson didn't promise to solve Charlotte's fatal spacing issues, but with Indiana he was an average 3-point shooter and a bullying rim attacker on the pick-and-roll.

It hasn't worked...

... Stephenson is an easy scapegoat, and that's partly his own doing. His body language has been horrible, and that degrades morale. He pouts when he doesn't get the ball on the weak side, flapping his wings and looking skyward as if his teammates have wronged him. He steals rebounds, and he hot dogs with the ball at times.

Now will the Hornets really trade Stephenson this quickly? Probably not. Plus, is there a market out there for him?

Lance has said he wanted to be in Indiana, would the Pacers perhaps be open to a reunion?