The Pacers have “serious interest” in Rodney Stuckey as they seek to replace Lance Stephenson, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Pacers reportedly reached out to Rodney Stuckey in the first two days of free agency, but they were nonetheless without plans to pursue him. It appears that Indiana is now ready to go after him, if the team isn’t already making a push for the Leon Rose client.
Stuckey’s days with the Pistons appear to be over after the team renounced its Bird rights to the 28-year-old combo guard and struck deals with Jodie Meeks and D.J. Augustin. The Magic had been poised to make a play for Stuckey, who was reportedly willing to sign with the Warriors for the mid-level exception before Golden State committed most of that exception to Shaun Livingston instead.
The Pacers have reportedly already used most their mid-level on Damjan Rudez and C.J. Miles, and they’re without the biannual exception after using it last year to sign C.J. Watson. That means that Indiana would probably have to work a sign-and-trade with the Pistons to give Stuckey any more than the minimum salary.