Hornets Sign Lance Stephenson 3y/27.5 mil (p67)

[BobsBuddy]

Charlotte just got rid of some major baggage the last 2 years in TT and BG.There is team chemstry in our locker room now..I don't care if we can get LS for $1.38...He will screw up this team..CHO'S Plan and any hopes of advancing in the playoffs.. As for his off the court activites,if there anythng like on the court, watch out...

[Joest2003]

:nonono: Charlotte just got rid of some major baggage the last 2 years in TT and BG.There is team chemstry in our locker room now..I don't care if we can get LS for $1.38...He will screw up this team..CHO'S Plan and any hopes of advancing in the playoffs.. As for his off the court activites,if there anythng like on the court, watch out...

The Pacers were like the closest team in the beginning of the year they would even do interviews as a whole team. Its when they traded Grainger all the problems started so I dont think hes bad for chemistry at all expecially if you factor in that him and Kemba are friends from NYC already.

[Bassman]

This team needs an infusion of talent and it just so happens that Stephenson is the most talented young FA available who also happens to play at a position of need (SG). Houston will keep Parsons under contract next year so he wont be available.

Stephenson's problem is not that he is lazy. Unlike Tyrus or Derrick Coleman, he is by all accounts a dedicated worker when it comes to improving his game and training. His problem is that he is arrogant and somewhat eccentric. This should be factored in when pricing his FA value but should not be a disqualifier if they can land the guy at the right price. Eccentric personalities can be managed or at the very least tempered with the right veterans and staff.

Chicago did it with Rodman and Charlotte, as noted, also did at already with Jackson, a player who had a history of cold clocking fans during a game and engaging in late night gun battles outside titty bars. Blowing in LeBron's ear and making some smart-ass remarks to the media looks pale in comparison.

So far as I'm aware, despite Stephenson's well documented lapses in judgement relating to basketball etiquette, he hasnt been in any recent trouble with the law during the past two years.

Excellent points brother DMutombo. This has been my emphasis from the beginning of my stated desire to sign Lance. He is a quality player, a guy hard to get in free agency, and we would benefit tremendously if we could win the sweepstakes for him. Lance is not a cancer, nor a toxic team guy. The author of the analysis posted on page 4 is right on. The way to get Lance is demonstrate our desire early and often. Hopefully as soon as FA opens, MJ is on the phone with Lance and his agent, asking to fly him to Charlotte on his private jet for a tour and discussions. Sell him on the team, the mission and the city. Lance will be embraced by the team and the town. His play would be a huge compliment to AL, Kemba, MKG and our PF. Take the same approach we did with Al Jefferson...early and with intensity. Ask our key players to reach out to him when they are able. Sell him on his future with this team. The Pacers are NOT the team to get past the Heat. We can be the one to jump to the top, especially with Lance.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

The problems stated before the trade.


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[Eoghan]

If signing Lance means we don't trade for Afflalo, then I think I'm okay with Lance.

[MasterIchiro]

The catch is we have to treat the draft assuming no free agent is a guarantee. And we need to draft a SG to bump Henderson.

[Eoghan]

The catch is we have to treat the draft assuming no free agent is a guarantee. And we need to draft a SG to bump Henderson.

Unless one of Exum or Wiggins miraculously fall, I don't think there is a Sg that is going to bump Hendo, sadly. I'd play CDR over Hendo if it was me personally, but the guy is like a mole that can't be lanced...


Unless he's Lanced.

Cho will draft his lovechild regardless of positional need, book it.

[MasterIchiro]

Of course no rookie can bump Henderson, at least not right away. That's what I like about Afflalo - he does. And then he's a 2 year commitment, whereas signing Lance would block a SG for the long term. If you get your heart set on Lance you're eliminating the strongest position in the draft SG especially making matters worse when you consider the glut of SG talent around our draft slot at 9 or even 24. It makes sense to draft a SG in a draft deep with SG when you need one. It saves money from a long term financial commitment to Lance or any other SG free agent.

Then what do you do if Lance doesn't sign?

[Joest2003]

The problems stated before the trade.


Sent from my iPad using RealGM Forums mobile app

If you consider triple doubles problems than I guess so

[Bassman]

Of course no rookie can bump Henderson, at least not right away. That's what I like about Afflalo - he does. And then he's a 2 year commitment, whereas signing Lance would block a SG for the long term. If you get your heart set on Lance you're eliminating the strongest position in the draft SG especially making matters worse when you consider the glut of SG talent around our draft slot at 9 or even 24. It makes sense to draft a SG in a draft deep with SG when you need one. It saves money from a long term financial commitment to Lance or any other SG free agent.

Then what do you do if Lance doesn't sign?

This is why I want to trade up to 5 for our choice of Vohnel or Randle. I like Noah best. Getting one of those studs would be a coup. Adding Lance would be ideal. Hope we could include He do or Neal within the trade up and keep our 24th pick to get a wing player. Sign a PG in free agency and we're golden.

PG - Kemba, Williams
SG - Lance, Henderson, draft.pick
SF - Hyphen, CDR
PF - Noah, Zeller
C - Big Al, Biz

[MasterIchiro]

Of course no rookie can bump Henderson, at least not right away. That's what I like about Afflalo - he does. And then he's a 2 year commitment, whereas signing Lance would block a SG for the long term. If you get your heart set on Lance you're eliminating the strongest position in the draft SG especially making matters worse when you consider the glut of SG talent around our draft slot at 9 or even 24. It makes sense to draft a SG in a draft deep with SG when you need one. It saves money from a long term financial commitment to Lance or any other SG free agent.

Then what do you do if Lance doesn't sign?

This is why I want to trade up to 5 for our choice of Vohnel or Randle. I like Noah best. Getting one of those studs would be a coup. Adding Lance would be ideal. Hope we could include He do or Neal within the trade up and keep our 24th pick to get a wing player. Sign a PG in free agency and we're golden.

PG - Kemba, Williams
SG - Lance, Henderson, draft.pick
SF - Hyphen, CDR
PF - Noah, Zeller
C - Big Al, Biz

Ok I hadn't thought of drafting up to take a PF and hedge by picking a SG at 24 in case Lance rejects Charlotte. I guess Zeller or Biz would have to be used to move up. To get into the top 5 I would think MKG would need to be used. But if Randle falls to the Celtics it could get interesting because Randle is redundant with Sullinger. The Celtics might take 9 + 24 for Randle. I think the Jazz will take Vonleh and run. I think the Celtics would not trade down if they have Vonleh available.

I'd love to have Randle + Lance Stephenson but again, Lance is not a guarantee and I don't want to be left with Hendo. If I can replace Hendo before leaving the draft I'm going to do it, which is why I take the Afflalo guarantee. And my favorite prospect is Stauskas who is a SG, so I'm more lukewarm on depending on a Lance signing to come through.

[ARHornet]

Vonleh is just as raw as Zeller was. If we draft him then we need to have someone else (McRoberts?) ready to start at PF for at least a season until Vonleh is ready.

A starting lineup of Kemba, Lance, MKG, McRoberts, and Al with Vonleh and another rookie SG waiting in the wings would be a good team.

[Liver_Pooty]

Vonleh is not starting for a playoff team right now, at all.

[MasterIchiro]

Look bottom line is I think there's better value in drafting Stauskas than signing Lance Stephenson especially since we don't know if Stephenson will even sign.

The arrangement seals it for me if we can dump Henderson in the process, gain Afflalo to continue to win now and use Lance's money to help sign Greg Monroe to be a PF/C for 2 years, a C in training as a prodigy of Al. Kanter raves about how much he learned under Al and so does Favors. Those guys miss him. I bet he's a great coach and a tutor. Greg Monroe has plenty of talent to learn from Al.

[ARHornet]

Look bottom line is I think there's better value in drafting Stauskas than signing Lance Stephenson especially since we don't know if Stephenson will even sign.

The arrangement seals it for me if we can dump Henderson in the process, gain Afflalo to continue to win now and use Lance's money to help sign Greg Monroe to be a PF/C for 2 years, a C in training as a prodigy of Al. Kanter raves about how much he learned under Al and so does Favors. Those guys miss him. I bet he's a great coach and a tutor. Greg Monroe has plenty of talent to learn from Al.

I agree with you completely on Lance, Afflalo, Stauskas, and Hendo. I just can't get behind Monroe.

I'd be okay with Monroe if we're bringing him in to play center behind Al and that alone. But he's gonna want way too much money to come here as a backup, and I don't want him starting and playing major minutes at PF beside Al. That's an awful fit. What Monroe gives us on offense isn't even close to being worth what he'll do to our spacing and defense. I agree he'd be a great guy to bring in to learn from Al and eventually replace him, but I see him as an awful fit on this team until Al is gone or unless we want to pay him to play 14 minutes a game behind Al, and we all know that isn't happening.

[MasterIchiro]

I would rather add Monroe and allow time for Clifford to coach him on defense and appoint Al to train him to become a legit post threat at C.

I would be OK with 14 minutes a night as Al's backup at C on the 2nd unit and 20 minutes at PF alongside Al.

If Clifford is going to let a 10 rebound guy ruin defense in a matter of 20 minutes then he's not doing his job.

Our perimeter defense with Afflalo + MKG would be exceptional and that's what the NBA is mostly about these days imo. Teams live on the perimeter on offense and pack the paint on defense.

Of course there will be some mobile PF where you bring in Zeller or some big men who are too much for Al + Monroe together so you bring in Biz paired with Monroe.

This is alot about preserving Al as well.

[Eoghan]

I'd rather draft a good PF/C and let him go to school with Biz and CZ under Professor Al than trade/sign for Monroe. Monroe is an NBA veteran and will get a big paycheck so rules him out as an Al apprentice IMO.

I feel like there are two teams, the current Al window team and the young, developing foundation of MKG, Biz, Zeller, Kemba, Taylor and this year's rookies. Ideally if we could sign Lance to a short-term "prove you're not insane" contract that would be the way to go, it's not like there are hardly any better uses of the cap space.

[MasterIchiro]

I'd rather draft a good PF/C and let him go to school with Biz and CZ under Professor Al than trade/sign for Monroe. Monroe is an NBA veteran and will get a big paycheck so rules him out as an Al apprentice IMO.

I feel like there are two teams, the current Al window team and the young, developing foundation of MKG, Biz, Zeller, Kemba, Taylor and this year's rookies. Ideally if we could sign Lance to a short-term "prove you're not insane" contract that would be the way to go, it's not like there are hardly any better uses of the cap space.

It's a good plan and I would embrace it if I felt Lance can be signed for 2 years. I don't. I think he'll get 4. Henderson got 3 for chrissakes.

[Eoghan]

I'd rather draft a good PF/C and let him go to school with Biz and CZ under Professor Al than trade/sign for Monroe. Monroe is an NBA veteran and will get a big paycheck so rules him out as an Al apprentice IMO.

I feel like there are two teams, the current Al window team and the young, developing foundation of MKG, Biz, Zeller, Kemba, Taylor and this year's rookies. Ideally if we could sign Lance to a short-term "prove you're not insane" contract that would be the way to go, it's not like there are hardly any better uses of the cap space.

It's a good plan and I would embrace it if I felt Lance can be signed for 2 years. I don't. I think he'll get 4. Henderson got 3 for chrissakes.

I'd say we've got a 50/50 shot. If nobody throws 10M per at him or more probably only less attractive markets throw long-term contracts at him I think he could be had. He blew in LeBron's ear on the biggest stage after all, lol.

[Liver_Pooty]

Monroe is going to get near max money. Do you guys want to spend the max on him? Hell no.