Lance Stephenson Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation Surrounding Hornets Star
The Charlotte Hornets may be feeling buyer's remorse as it looks into the possibility of trading Lance Stephenson less than a season after signing him.
Continue for updates.
Team Stream Now Weighs In On Stephenson to Nets Rumors
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders weighed in on Stephenson's future before the trade deadline:
Skolnick Weighs in On Stephenson's Future in Charlotte
Monday, Feb. 16
Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report weighed in on the chances of Stephenson being traded before the deadline:
Stephenson Says It Would Be a 'Blessing' to Play in Brooklyn
Sunday, Feb. 15
Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News provided a statement from Stephenson discussing the importance of playing for the Nets:
"Returning home and playing for the Nets would be a 'blessing' for Lance Stephenson. But for now, the leading high school scorer in NYC history is getting back to his roots, hoping to rediscover his game with the Hornets.
'I’m just trying to get my mind off of basketball, go to my neighborhood and get my hunger back,' Stephenson told the Daily News at an event Saturday in Brooklyn to pay tribute to Brooklyn Streetball, sponsored by And1 and Slam Magazine. 'With me, it’s all mental. I feel like once I get mentally into it, coming back to get that hunger.
Cause sometimes you lose your hunger. You’ve been doing it for so long you forget all the hard work that got you here. So I’m just getting back on that, getting focused.'
"
On Jan. 25, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported trade discussions between the Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets invloving Lance Stephenson are heating up again:
"The Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets have restarted trade discussions, this time focused on guard Joe Johnson, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
The Hornets and Nets are discussing a larger package that would likely include guards Lance Stephenson and Gerald Henderson and forward Marvin Williams, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
"
Howard Beck Discusses A Potential Clippers Deal for Stephenson
Monday, Feb. 2
Howard Beck of Bleacher Report discussed the potential fit for Stephenson with the Los Angeles Clippers:
Bleacher Report's Howard Beck Discusses Status of Stephenson Trade
Friday, Jan. 16
Watch Bleacher Report's Howard Beck discuss the trade's status here:
Stephenson Could be Part of 3-Way Deal
Thursday, Jan. 15
Wojnarowski reported the Nets are looking into trading for Lance Stephenson:
Wojnarowski went on to detail a potential trade scenario:
"The Nets have had discussions with Oklahoma City on Lopez, but the best chance for bringing back value on the former All-Star center could be gambling on the talent of Stephenson. There's support for a Stephenson homecoming to Brooklyn on the ownership level but rival teams believe the front office is more cautious about taking on the volatile player.
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ESPN's Chris Broussard broke down one potential deal that would send Stephenson to Brooklyn:
Pacers Not Looking to Bring Back Stephenson
Monday, Dec. 22
ESPN's Marc Stein reported Stephenson would not be welcomed back to the Pacers:
Hornets Exploring Stephenson Trade Options
Sunday, Dec. 14
According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the team is open to the possibility of trading Lance Stephenson, whom they signed in July:
Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski adds that a return to the Indiana Pacers is a potential option; however, he noted that there is a significant roadblock still in place:
If the Hornets move Stephenson, they'll be selling low on the 24-year-old. However, head coach Steve Clifford recently defended the newcomer, via Stein:
"To be fair, one of the things that's made it more difficult for him is that he came here and people proclaimed him as the next superstar. He's not a star. He's a guy that has talent to become a star. To be a star in this league, you have to do it over years.
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Still, a backcourt of Stephenson, Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist simply doesn't provide enough shooting for the Hornets, who are 6-17 after entering the season with lofty expectations. With Walker seen as the team's future point guard and Kidd-Gilchrist still on a friendly rookie contract, moving Stephenson makes the most sense.
Moreover, as Stein noted, a non-guaranteed third year on his new contract makes him a more enticing target for potential suitors.
Stephenson is an immense talent capable of making a positive impact on both sides of the ball, but there have also been concerns about him as a teammate. He's a high-risk, high-reward player (as the Hornets have learned over the first quarter of the season), and it will be interesting to see which teams choose to engage with Charlotte in trade talks, if any.
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