Rodney Stuckey is going nowhere.
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According to Shams Charania of RealGM, the Pacers have reached an agreement with their own free agent guard Rodney Stuckey on a deal that’s worth $21 million for over three years, including a player option for the final year.
After moving big man Roy Hibbert to the Los Angeles Lakers to clear up cap space, the Indiana Pacers are moving swiftly to assemble their roster.
Stuckey, 29, has averages of 13.3 points and 3.8 assists over his National Basteball Association career with the Pacers and Detroit Pistons.
Bird too, at the close of the 2014-15 season, had expressed his desire to retain Stuckey, telling the Indy Star, “I think we can get Rodney done”. “We took a chance because Rodney wanted to wait”.
Stuckey flourished in Frank Vogel’s offensive system and provided stability as a starter or reserve last season, averaging 12.6 points on 39 percent tree-point shooting in 26.4 minutes per game. “He was a major plus for our franchise”. Instead, Stuckey’s salary will now swell from the veteran’s minimum to $7 million annually. The Pacers already agreed to a four-year, $44 million contract with Monta Ellis, per ESPN’s Chris Broussard and Marc Stein. “They wanted him back”.
Both players are undersized, score-first combo guards who defend at a below-average level.
With Stuckey signed, Larry Bird’s next move might be to bring back Luis Scola who also impressed last season in his role off the bench. Miles are the only other guards now signed-means Stuckey and Ellis will have to spend time on the floor together.
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There were reports that Stuckey was looking to sign with a contender this offseason, but he personally said he and the Pacers would “figure something out” when asked if he would return to Indiana.
