AC

Free-agent guard  Lance Stephenson will play for the  Charlotte Hornets for the next three seasons. His contract is worth $27 million, league sources said. The deal was signed early Wednesday morning after Hornets owner Michael Jordan, general manager Rich Cho, head coach Steve Clifford and associate head coach Patrick Ewing met with Stephenson and his representatives Tuesday night in Las Vegas. The contract, which includes a team option for the final season, ends Stephenson's productive yet volatile four-year stay with the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers made Stephenson a five-year, $44 million contract offer on July 1. But Stephenson, who led the league in triple-doubles, felt the offer undervalued him.  "Lance is forever grateful for all the love he's received from Pacers fans. He is especially grateful to his teammates, [Pacers coach] Frank Vogel, [owner] Herb Simon, the Pacers management and most of all, Larry Bird," Stephenson's agent, Alberto Ebanks,...