NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Updates on Lance Stephenson, Gerald Henderson and More
What's an NBA team with a losing record to do?
Well, it appears throwing in the towel and praying for a high draft pick is one course of action, currently being executed to bizarro perfection by the 0-17 Philadelphia 76ers. Of course, not every team is willing to wait so long to do some roster building.
Thus, the trade talks start flying and the NBA rumor mill starts churning as teams still harboring playoff aspirations look to make moves during the season.
While nothing may come of the latest rumblings, it's worth taking a look at the latest trade buzz surrounding two sub-.500 squads that aren't yet ready to give up on the 2014-15 season.
Hornets Looking to Make Moves
When the Hornets picked up shooting guard Lance Stephenson as a free agent in the summer of 2014, it looked like the perfect move for an ascendant franchise desperate to start a new era of success with an old mascot and soothing teal uniforms.
Unfortunately, Stephenson hasn't added much value to the 4-14 team, which is still leaning all too heavily on point guard Kemba Walker and forward/center Al Jefferson.
According to Grantland's Zach Lowe, the Hornets are open to trading to upgrade certain positions, and it appears the newly acquired Stephenson isn't a protected name in Charlotte:
"The Hornets have been aggressive making trade calls, according to sources across the league.
The Hornets are searching for upgrades on the wing and at power forward, per those sources, and they are willing to talk turkey on basically anyone other than Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson. Free agents signed this past offseason can’t be traded until December 15, and few would be surprised if the Hornets make and take calls on Lance Stephenson ahead of that trigger date.
"
Giving up on Stephenson so early might serve to alarm fans, as the franchise is not so far removed from being a perennial cellar-dweller. The Hornets have been alarmingly disappointing considering the high expectations, although Jefferson believes in the personnel moves made prior to this season.
"We have no excuse,” he said, via The Washington Post's Michael Lee. “MJ and the front office did they job. Now we’ve got to do our job."
The Hornets made some high-profile moves, but it's tough to figure out how exactly Stephenson can prove the front office did its job.
Stephenson's 9.1 points per game and 36.7 percent shooting have only served to drag down an offense that wasn't all that potent to begin with.
The Hornets, then called the Bobcats, scored 101.2 points per 100 possessions in 2013-14, per ESPN.com. That placed them at 24th in the league, and the squad relied on a tough defense to make the playoffs. This year, the team is down to 27th in offensive efficiency with 97.6 points per 100 possessions and the defensive tenacity is lacking.
Then again, Stephenson isn't the only player gumming up the works on offense. According to USA Today's Sam Amick, Gerald Henderson's name has reportedly been mentioned in trade talks:
Henderson isn't faring well in a limited role this season.
| 2013-14 | 77 | 77 | 32.0 | 15.8 | .433 | .348 | 4.5 | 2.9 |
| 2014-15 | 15 | 10 | 22.7 | 10.8 | .427 | .273 | 3.6 | 2.4 |
His $6 million-per-year contract, per Spotrac, may be slightly easier to move than Stephenson's, but any 26-year-old who has a drop-off in production like Henderson's is bound to be a no-go in certain front offices. Stephenson could still turn things around in Charlotte. If teams do jump to get him, it could actually serve as a signal that the Hornets are giving up on him too soon.
The Hornets need to do something to shake up this roster, as there is still hope for this franchise playing in a talent-starved Eastern Conference.
Pelicans Reportedly Aggressive in Trade Talks
With a 7-8 record, the New Orleans Pelicans, on paper, look to be in a considerably better spot than the Charlotte Hornets. However, the Pelicans have to deal with an ultra-tough Western Conference, one that boasts 10 teams with winning percentages of .529 or better.
Making up ground will be no easy feat, and it appears the front office is aware the current roster might not be up to the task.
According to Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy, the Pelicans are in the trade market and have cleared spots on the roster as well:
Nascent superstar Anthony Davis may be able to do it all on the court, but the Pelicans will be better off if he isn't forced to do it alone. As Benjamin Hoffman of the New York Times points out, the Pelicans are very dependent upon their star forward:
"Among the many statistics John Hollinger contributed to the game before joining the front office of the Memphis Grizzlies was Game Score, which tries to sum up a player’s box score contributions in a single number and relate it in a similar fashion to point total, with 30 being an excellent performance and 10 being average. In what could not be a more striking picture of Davis’s value, the Pelicans are 7-3 when Davis has a Game Score above 20, and they are 0-4 when he drops below that number.
"
One position where the Pelicans could use depth (or an upgrade) is shooting guard. Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers are the only two players on New Orleans who are garnering at least 20 minutes per game and yet have player efficiency ratings below 10, per ESPN.com.
Neither player is much of a defensive stopper, either. The Pelicans are 21st in defensive efficiency, per ESPN.com, despite featuring Davis, who is averaging 3.0 blocks and 2.07 steals per game.
Waiving two young players like Darius Miller and Patric Young also suggests this team is looking for veteran, rotation-level help. Upgrading the shooting guard position or finding a suitable backup for Tyreke Evans at small forward, especially one who is committed to playing defense, would be a fine start for this franchise on the brink of becoming a bona fide playoff contender.
