Player Notes

Stephenson is expected to play a role off the Pacers' bench next season if Danny Granger (knee) returns to full health, the Indianapolis Star reports. Indiana coach Frank Vogel anticipates a healthy Granger being a starter, which knocks Stephenson back to the bench.
Recommendation: Stephenson enjoyed his finest season as a pro in 2012-13, taking advantage of increased playing time because of Granger's knee injury. He was a key cog in the Pacers' playoff run, when he averaged 7.6 rebounds. Can he be as effective in shorter minutes off the bench? What will be asked of him as a reserve? The Pacers had a pretty weak bench for much of the season and could really use a reliable scorer. We're not sure Stephenson's ready for that.

Miller is the logical candidate to be moved to the bench, if Miami changes up its starting lineup, Yahoo! Sports reports. When asked about it, coach Erik Spoelstra said, "We'll find out."
Recommendation: Considering the Spurs were able to counter punch effectively in Game 5 with a small starting five featuring Manu Ginobili, perhaps the Heat are contemplating a more traditional lineup, with Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen experiencing a modest bump in playing time. After getting blanked, scoring-wise, in his two starts, Miller could move back to the bench, from which he knocked down 10-of-11 three-pointers during the first three contests of the finals.

Mills played 58 games during the regular season, averaging 11 minutes per game.
Recommendation: Mills played in a limited role for the deep Spurs' bench. He was behind fellow guards Nando De Colo and Cory Joseph for playing time. For the season, he averaged 5.1 points (on 46.9 percent shooting) and 1.1 assists. He's a contributor for three-pointers when given minutes but is often overlooked due to the Spurs' depth. Mills has a player option for the 2013-14 season that he's likely to accept to remain in San Antonio.

Hansbrough finished the 2012-13 season averaging 7.0 points (43.2 percent from the floor and 72 percent at the foul line) with 4.6 rebounds in a career-low 16.9 minutes.
Recommendation: Hansbrough experienced a further drop in playing time during the 19-game playoff run, as the team's weak bench was a non-factor in the postseason. He appears to have become less important to the team's rotation than he had been the past few years, but still, we expect the Pacers to extend a qualifying offer to Hansbrough and retain him for another season.

Andersen will likely be back in the Heat's rotation for Tuesday's Game 6 against the Spurs, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
Recommendation: During the first three games of the series, Andersen averaged 12.7 minutes nightly, but coach Erik Spoelstra trotted out small-ball lineups in each of the past two contests, which have kept him glued to the bench. Andersen's energy in the frontcourt has been quite valuable during Miami's playoff run, as he has tallied six points, 2.3 boards, and 0.7 blocks per tilt when he has taken the court in the series.

Jenkins averaged 6.1 points on 44.6 percent shooting in his first NBA season.
Recommendation: Jenkins, the 23rd overall selection in the 2012 draft, was brought in primarily for his shooting prowess. In college, he led the SEC in scoring twice and shot nearly 44 percent from beyond the arc in his career. He appeared in 61 games for the Hawks and saw his playing time increase following a season-ending ACL injury to the newly-acquired Lou Williams in January. However, with established marksman Kyle Korver already on the roster, Jenkins was never able to emerge as the primary shooter. He played well in a short, mid-season D-League stint (51 points in two games) and will likely be a member of the team's summer league squad this offseason. As per his rookie deal, Jenkins is under contract for next season and the Hawks hold club options for 2014-15 and 2015-16. The team's roster could look very different next season but expect Jenkins to once again contribu! te as a shooter off the bench.

Stevenson averaged 5.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game in 2012-13.
Recommendation: Suiting up for his sixth NBA team (fourth in the last four seasons), Stevenson appeared in 56 games (starting 31) but was hampered by chronic knee and back issues for much of the season and often did not suit up for the second game of back-to-backs. He's clearly deteriorated offensively over the past few years, as he's shot under 40 percent from the field in each season since 2007-08. Stevenson signed a three-year deal with the Hawks last offseason, but the team is likely waive him this summer to clear cap room, as his contract is non-guaranteed.

Jerebko is encouraged by the recent signing of new head coach Maurice Cheeks, MLive.com reports.
Recommendation: It was an open secret that Jerebko and former Pistons coach Lawrence Frank did not see eye to eye, which helps explain his reduced role in two seasons under Frank's direction. In 2012-13, Jerebko posted career lows in points (7.7), rebounds (3.8), field-goal percentage (44.9), and minutes (18.1). Moreover, he only appeared in 49 of 82 contests, after missing two games combined in his first two campaigns in Detroit, so a change of scheme could invigorate the mindset and production of the hybrid forward.

Mack appeared in 31 NBA games in 2012-13, spending time with the Wizards, 76ers and Hawks.
Recommendation: Mack, who played last season for the Wizards, was cut by the team at the end of the preseason and subsequently spent the next two months in the D-League. He was re-signed by the Wizards in December and started a couple games in the absence of John Wall and A.J. Price. The Wizards released Mack on Jan. 7, one day before his contract would have become guaranteed. He then signed a pair of 10-day deals with the 76ers before eventually landing with the Hawks in early March, where he would remain for the rest of the season. The former Butler star was not overly effective, but his shooting percentages (46.0 percent FG, 36.7 percent 3Pt) in limited minutes were encouraging. He's a free agent once again this summer and will likely have a few teams interested in his services as a third point guard.

Bazemore appeared in 61 games but averaged just 4.4 minutes per game as a rookie in 2012-13.
Recommendation: The former Old Dominion standout rarely saw meaningful minutes for the Warriors this season but could often be seen as the de facto cheerleading captain at the end of Golden State's animated bench. He averaged 2.0 points on 37.1 percent shooting and - though he signed a two-year deal - his contract is non-guaranteed for next season. The Warriors will likely keep him around, but a strong summer league and pre-season showing could go a long way toward solidifying his spot as a reserve combo guard.