Try as they might, the Pacers could not keep Lance Stephenson from signing a three-year, $27 million contract with the Hornets. Stephenson wanted a shorter deal and madea bold bet on himself, Nike LunarEclipse 4rationale being he will mature and increasein value over the next Chanel Sunglasses Saleseasons. The Pacers' offer of $44 million over five years was fair, but, at 23, odds were Stephenson would outplay the deal and be underpaid near the end of hiscontract. Paul George (AP Photo) MORE: George faces long rehab | Cuban takes IOC to task | Team USA photosThe Pacers were sad to see Stephenson leave Indiana. He developed a player there.Larry Bird took a chance on him. That gamble paid off and then some.Still, thePacers were finebecause they had Paul George. He signed a five-year, $90 million deal andchallenged the NBA's elite players last season.Things have changed. George suffered a horrific leg injury in a Team USA scrimmage held at Thomas &Mack Center and will miss 12 to18 months with a tibia-fibula fracture.And while there was no way to plan for such a freak accident, the injury only heightens the loss of Stephenson.George and Stephenson often played alongside one another over the past four years. They were picked in the same draft, with George going No. 10 and Stephenson @uc@leiywwf4go@uc@