Lance Stephenson was a borderline All-Star two seasons ago, so when the up-and-coming Charlotte Hornets signed him last offseason, everyone figured that a good young team had found one more piece of the puzzle. However, “Born Ready” wasn’t the right fit and he basically torpedoed the team. He was benched, starting just 25 games last season and hampered the team chemistry. The Hornets tried to move him at every turn but couldn’t find a trade partner…until now. The Los Angeles Clippers have traded for him, sending back Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes, but what does this all translate to for both sides?
What It Means For Charlotte
It means that they are getting rid of a problem. It’s not that Stephenson had merely underperformed as a member of the Hornets, it’s the fact that he became a problem in the locker room and on the court. It was written on his face that he was displeased with the situation and he wanted to get the hell out of there as soon as possible. With him being a malcontent, it really hurt the psyche of the young team.
In return, the Hornets get Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes. If you’re first reaction is that this is a salary dump, you’d be wrong to think that. Yes, the Hornets will save a little bit of money but Barnes will cost them $3.5 million next season while Hawes comes in at $5.5 next season, $5.7 in 2016-17 and possibly $6.021 in 2017-18 (player option). As for Stephenson, he was basically expiring after next season with a salary of $9 million (he merely has a team option after that).
While the Hornets won’t save much money here, this trade is about character. Hawes is still just 27 years old and if he gets starters minutes, he can contribute about 14 points a game and eight rebounds as he did in 2013-14. As for Barnes, he’ll add some character, defense and toughness, which is something the soft Hornets definitely lack.
The Hornets are simply hoping that they can go back to being playoff-caliber as they were two seasons ago and have this duo help out their depth. If they can be a team who is once again on the rise, then this is mission accomplished.
What It Means For Los Angeles
It means they may have found the last piece of the championship puzzle. There’s no question that this is a bit of a gamble for the Clippers. Who knows which Stephenson they are going to get: The one that was a nightly triple-double for the championship-caliber Indiana Pacers or the sourpuss that slumped in Charlotte?
But, the Clippers are against the cap and they won’t be able to sign any real impact players. That’s why they have to gamble in the trade market.
So what did they really give up here? Hawes, who played just 17.5 minutes per game off the bench for them, can be easily replaced. And Barnes? There’s no question he’s a heart-and-soul type of guy, but he’s 35 years old now. His best years are behind him.
As for Stephenson, we have to remember that he’s just 24 years old, so there is still time for him to mature and improve. And with Doc Rivers as his head coach, it’s quite likely that that will happen. This is a coach who got Jamal Crawford to stop taking awful shots and turned him into a perennial sixth man of the year candidate while also morphing DeAndre Jordan into one of the game’s best centers.
Rivers should also be able to get Stephenson’s head screwed on properly. If he does, think about what the Clippers just acquired: a player that can bring toughness, grit, rebounding, scoring, some outside shooting and solid defense. When he’s at his best, he’s exactly the type of player that opponents hate to go against. The Clippers are thinking that the absolute worst-case scenario is that he gives them what Barnes was going to provide but the best case could be that he’s All-Star caliber again and is really the final piece of the puzzle.
In Rivers, we trust. That means Stephenson should be able to shine once again with a fresh start in Los Angeles. And the Clippers really didn’t give up anything they’ll miss next season.
