Clippers nab Lance Stephenson in trade for Barnes and Hawes

The Los Angeles Clippers traded for guard/forward Lance Stephenson from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forward Matt Barnes and center Spencer Hawes.

Stephenson, 24, appeared in 61 games (25 starts) last season for Charlotte, averaging 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 25.8 minutes. He spent four seasons in Indiana before signing with the Hornets prior to the 2014-15 season.

While those numbers were hardly eye-catching, the Clippers more likely hope that Stephenson will return to the form he showed in Indiana during the 2013-14 season. That year he averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists over 78 games (all starts) for the Pacers. He was also noted for his defensive intensity.

A native of Brooklyn, NY, the 6’5” guard/forward helped his high school team win city basketball championships in all four years of high school, and is still New York State’s all-time leading scorer in high school basketball.

A gamble on a player of Stephenson's talent is certainly worthwhile for a Clippers franchise desperately seeking to gain ground on the  elite teams in the Western Conference. Still the loss of Matt Barnes specifically will be felt by the organization.

Barnes, 35, averaged 10.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 76 games (74 starts) for L.A. last season. The UCLA product spent three seasons with the Clippers. He has career NBA averages of 8.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 779 games (296 starts). Barnes had added a tenacity and toughness to the team that some had questioned. He will now be taking those intangibles to a Hornets franchise in need of his experience.

Originally signed by the Clippers in July 2014, Hawes, 27, spent one disappointing season in Los Angeles. In 73 games (15 starts), he averaged 5.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 17.5 minutes.


By staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com