Clippers Get: Lance Stephenson G
Hornets Get: Spencer Hawes C, Matt Barnes F
Clippers – B
The Clippers came into the offseason needing change, but lacking financial flexibility. With nearly $40 million already locked up in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Doc Rivers vowed to make Deandre Jordan a maximum player this offseason. Add in a starting salary of $19,027,800, and suddenly the Clippers are right at the cap with just three players.
Assuming Jordan’s commitment, and the retainment of Redick and Crawford, the Clippers are already over the cap for next season. That leaves them with only the taxpayer mid-level exception, at $3.376 million, to offer prospective players. Not enough to attract a talented player the Clippers need.
Due to their limited financial resources, and trade assets, the Clippers can only acquire talent by trading talent – counterproductive for a contender – or taking a risk. Enter the enigmatic Lance Stephenson, lacking in neither talent or risk.
Just two years ago, Stephenson was an integral part of a Pacers team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite his crucial production (below) and youth, Stephenson was a free agent.
| Season | Age | Tm | G | FG% | 3P% | TRB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 23 | IND | 78 | 49.1% | 35.2% | 7.2 | 4.6 | 13.8 |
If you just gave me that stat line, and told me a 23-year old free agent produced it, I’d have two words for you. Max contract. That kind of all-around production is hard to come by, let alone from a 23-year old.
But its not just any 23-year old, its Lance Stephenson. His personality is so volatile, Larry Bird let him walk that offseason over $8 million. The worst part is, he was right.
| Season | Age | Tm | G | FG% | 3P% | TRB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | 24 | CHO | 61 | 37.6% | 17.1% | 4.5 | 3.9 | 8.2 |
Stephenson dropped in every statistical category in Charlotte this past season. Most troubling was his drastic drop in shooting efficiency. He dropped 10% in field goal percentage, and nearly 20% from three.
He was so inefficient that the Charlotte Hornets benched him. So disruptive that they dumped him for two role players.
The risk is apparent. You’re either going to get a budding star or a team morale killer. The Clippers have made a calculated risk, due to their limited resources. Now its time for Doc Rivers to prove he was worth that first round pick.
Hornets – B+
There are only a few organizations with the stability and culture to handle Lance Stephenson, the Hornets aren’t one of them. Even the organizations capable of containing him, likely wouldn’t want the headache.
This trade is simple for the Hornets, they unload Stephenson’s toxic personality. In return, they get forward Matt Barnes and big man Spencer Hawes.
Barnes has a non-guaranteed contract which could serve as useful trade bait, or waived for cap relief. Hawes is a floor spacing big, who actually fits quite well with Al Jefferson.
The Hornets did well to realize Stephenson was a detriment to their organization, and offload him for assets.