Trade Grades
Hornets get: C Spencer Hawes, SF Matt Barnes
Clippers get: SG Lance Stephenson
Bolded stuff = most important points/summary/highlights
Highly questionable move by Michael Jordan and Co here. Obviously, Lance was coming off a disappointing season and Charlotte was a horrible fit for him. However, with his potential and reasonable, expiring contract, the Hornets should’ve been able to get value for him, rather than take on less than desirable contracts from role players, which is what happened.
Although coming off a very poor season with the Hornets where he averaged just 8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game on an abysmal 37.5% shooting from the field, Stephenson still oozes upside. Though his antics and lack of maturity hinder his value, in the right role Lance can be an All-Star. Prior to this season with Charlotte, he averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and a steal on an efficient 49% shooting with the Indiana Pacers en route to an All-Star snub. He is still a defensive force with incredible length (6’11” wingspan) that boasts a very well-rounded overall game: a fair comparison could be SF/SG Nicolas Batum (POR). Still just 24, Stephenson’soffensive game is capable of further development, which would make him a true star in this league. His contract is reasonable as well, as he’s owed just $9 million this year before a $9.4 million team option for next season. All of this adds up to Stephenson holding actual trade value, and potentially worth as much as a late first-rounder. He issurely worth more than what Charlotte got, which was next to nothing.
Barnes, one of the players the Hornets received in the deal, is on an expiring $3.5 million contract, and he’s no more than a role player. He averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds per game this past season, which is actually one of the better ones of his career. Barnes’ main attributes are his toughness, solid ability to stretch the floor as a shooter, and his defensive tenacity. According to reports, he’s actually expected to be waived by the Hornets.
Hawes, on the other hand, is an interesting case. He was very impressive two years ago on a depleted Philadelphia squad: 13 points, 8.5 rebounds, a combined 2 steals and blocks per game, all while knocking down 1.5 threes on a ridiculous 40% from beyond the arc. This past year, however, his minutes have been cut from 31.5 to 17.5 per game with the Clippers, and he’s only put up 6 points, 3.5 rebounds, a combined 1 steal and block per game, and made just 1 three on 31.5% shooting from downtown. Could he be just as effective as he was in Philadelphia with an uptick in minutes? Perhaps, but his overall numbers fell off from two years ago to this past season more than proportionally with the decrease in minutes. He’s a good shooter, especially for his height, and a serviceable defender as well, but his inability to utilize his size in terms of scoring inside and grabbing more rebounds is alarming. He will fight for minutes in a Charlotte frontcourt that was a touch short on depth up front prior to the deal. Hawes is owed $5.7 million a year through 2018, although that’s reasonable, the length of the deal is almost reliant on the fact that he will be able to develop into more than just a shooter.
All in all, the Hornets sacrificed a potential star for a couple of role players, one of which is on a less than desireable contract. They now lack depth on the wing more than ever, particularly at shooting guard, and must turn to both free agency and the draft to fill the void left by Stephenson. Still, Charlotte loses in this trade both talent-wise and financially, and it is unclear exactly which direction a once-promising team is heading now.
Grade: C-
Hornets get: C Spencer Hawes, SF Matt Barnes
Clippers get: SG Lance Stephenson
Bolded stuff = most important points/summary/highlights
Highly questionable move by Michael Jordan and Co here. Obviously, Lance was coming off a disappointing season and Charlotte was a horrible fit for him. However, with his potential and reasonable, expiring contract, the Hornets should’ve been able to get value for him, rather than take on less than desirable contracts from role players, which is what happened.
Although coming off a very poor season with the Hornets where he averaged just 8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game on an abysmal 37.5% shooting from the field, Stephenson still oozes upside. Though his antics and lack of maturity hinder his value, in the right role Lance can be an All-Star. Prior to this season with Charlotte, he averaged 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and a steal on an efficient 49% shooting with the Indiana Pacers en route to an All-Star snub. He is still a defensive force with incredible length (6’11” wingspan) that boasts a very well-rounded overall game: a fair comparison could be SF/SG Nicolas Batum (POR). Still just 24, Stephenson’soffensive game is capable of further development, which would make him a true star in this league. His contract is reasonable as well, as he’s owed just $9 million this year before a $9.4 million team option for next season. All of this adds up to Stephenson holding actual trade value, and potentially worth as much as a late first-rounder. He issurely worth more than what Charlotte got, which was next to nothing.
Barnes, one of the players the Hornets received in the deal, is on an expiring $3.5 million contract, and he’s no more than a role player. He averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds per game this past season, which is actually one of the better ones of his career. Barnes’ main attributes are his toughness, solid ability to stretch the floor as a shooter, and his defensive tenacity. According to reports, he’s actually expected to be waived by the Hornets.
Hawes, on the other hand, is an interesting case. He was very impressive two years ago on a depleted Philadelphia squad: 13 points, 8.5 rebounds, a combined 2 steals and blocks per game, all while knocking down 1.5 threes on a ridiculous 40% from beyond the arc. This past year, however, his minutes have been cut from 31.5 to 17.5 per game with the Clippers, and he’s only put up 6 points, 3.5 rebounds, a combined 1 steal and block per game, and made just 1 three on 31.5% shooting from downtown. Could he be just as effective as he was in Philadelphia with an uptick in minutes? Perhaps, but his overall numbers fell off from two years ago to this past season more than proportionally with the decrease in minutes. He’s a good shooter, especially for his height, and a serviceable defender as well, but his inability to utilize his size in terms of scoring inside and grabbing more rebounds is alarming. He will fight for minutes in a Charlotte frontcourt that was a touch short on depth up front prior to the deal. Hawes is owed $5.7 million a year through 2018, although that’s reasonable, the length of the deal is almost reliant on the fact that he will be able to develop into more than just a shooter.
All in all, the Hornets sacrificed a potential star for a couple of role players, one of which is on a less than desireable contract. They now lack depth on the wing more than ever, particularly at shooting guard, and must turn to both free agency and the draft to fill the void left by Stephenson. Still, Charlotte loses in this trade both talent-wise and financially, and it is unclear exactly which direction a once-promising team is heading now.
Grade: C-
RSS Feed