Rodney Stuckey Reportedly Agrees to Contract with Indiana Pacers | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Daniel Foster Rodney Stuckey reportedly decided to return to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, agreeing to a three-year, $21 million deal, with a third year option, according to Shams Charania of Real GM.
Following the conclusion of Indiana's season, Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird told reporters that the team was interested in retaining Stuckey's services:
Indiana Pacers @PacersBird, on Stuckey: "I think it’s important for us to get him back here... We need guys like Rodney. He was a major plus for our franchise."
The 29-year-old shooting guard expressed similar feelings on June 20.
“Obviously, I hope to be back here and I think we’ll figure something out," Stuckey said, according to IndySportsCentral.com's Tricia Whitaker. "I’m not really worried about that. I love the Pacers organization and I love my teammates. Next year, we will be a lot healthier and we’ll make the playoffs, so I’m excited.”
Stuckey appeared in 71 games (36 starts) with the Pacers during the 2014-15 season and scored the ball at career-best rates. Although he wasn't renowned as a particularly efficient long-range scorer prior to signing with Indiana, Stuckey averaged 12.6 points while shooting a career-best 44 percent from the field and 39 percent from three.
In fact, Stuckey was one just 15 qualified players to average at least 12 points and hit better than 39 percent of his threes last season, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
A steady contributor who can score via catch-and-shoot and dribble-drive situations, Stuckey will be a solid option off the bench for the Pacers, giving them backcourt scoring behind Monta Ellis and Paul George.