RealGM

"He's got to shoot better, so it's focusing on making open shots in catch-and-shoots, coming off curl screens and one-to-two-dribble moves," said Andrew Moore, Impact's director of professional player development. "In that [Clippers] offense, there will be a lot of open shots on drives, kick-outs and swings. He's got a rare ability to be able to generate power without jumping; he can even shoot jump shots from half court and make it look effortless. The repetition now in training is just about getting his confidence back."

[instagram]https://instagram.com/p/5FuHLIRUq1/[/instagram]

B/R: How did you first hear about the trade?

LS: Just like this, (I was) working out (at Impact). And everybody in the gym was like, "Ooooh." They're like, "You're going to the Clippers." I was like, "What? Nah, let me check my phone." It was a surprise. I thought I was going to still be a Hornet. I was getting ready for the Hornets this year and out of nowhere I just heard I got traded. I'm very happy and blessed, and I think it's going to be a great year. Plus I'm in the West and they like to go up and down, and that's my type of game—grab the rebound and go and push it and find the open man. Just have fun.

B/R: How do you feel about starting or coming off the bench?

LS: It doesn't matter, because it's all about winning—because on the Warriors, nobody cared about who was starting. It wasn't a one-man show; it was teamwork. Everybody was on the same page. It's not about who starts; it's about who finishes. If you finish a game and Coach trusts you on the floor, that's all that matters. I just want to win, so whatever it takes to win.

B/R: What was it like following the DeAndre Jordan saga?

LS: When I heard he was leaving, I was about to cry. I'm like, "Come on, man." I get on a great team and then we lose one of the best big men in the league. So when he came back, I texted him, like, "We need you. We've got to get you back."

Jared Zwerling, Bleacher Report

nickhx2 wrote:it was an interesting read. kinda cringey though about him wanting to get all the rebounds though. i hope he can figure out how to do do that without tunnel visioning but i have doubts.

Stephenson Sees Right Pieces To Win A Ring

The middle of July is like Groundhog Day for Stephenson, who’s developed a daily ritual: Go to the gym at 10:30 a.m., stretch, get on the court, move around, shoot, play 1-on-1 against the players he’s working out with – which on July 20 happens to be Dahntay Jones and C.J. Watson – go upstairs, lift, return to the court, shoot more. Wake up and repeat, with minor tweaks each day.

Of course, the one main difference from the start of Stephenson’s workouts to now is the team he’s getting ready to play for when the 2015-16 season begins.

“I’m very excited,” Stephenson said. “I think we’ve got the pieces that can get us our ring. You’ve got coach (Doc) Rivers behind us. I think the sky’s the limit for us. We’ve got the talent, we’ve got the vets.”

Las Vegas’ Impact Basketball gym has been a popular offseason destination for many NBA stars looking to develop their training and conditioning. Walk into the gym, and Stephenson’s name hangs on a banner in between the names of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, who are among the many notable names to have gone through that gym.

If Stephenson can be mentioned among those names during the 2015-16 season, he knows it’ll be all worth it.

“I feel like this year I’m putting a lot of stuff behind. I’m grinding, and just a lot of positive stuff,” Stephenson said. “I’m just coming in the gym having fun, putting fun back into the game.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

The exes, Stephenson and Feby Torres, both 24, were in Brooklyn Family Court Thursday, squabbling over how much the stay-at-home mom is entitled out of Stephenson’s $9 million salary from last season, as well as a base $9 million salary next season.

Torres is aiming for $12,000 a month and wants her ex-beau to help her move out of Chauncey St. in Bedford Stuyvesant.