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

Post #1081 » by **fatlever** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:14 pm

my best guess - i think the hornets name is being attached to lance by his agent has a way to gain leverage. i think if we were interested in lance, we would have shown it by now. i am sticking with bonnell on this one and going with the notion that we are not interested.

LofJ · Post #1082 » by **LofJ** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:18 pm

fatlever wrote:my best guess - i think the hornets name is being attached to lance by his agent has a way to gain leverage. i think if we were interested in lance, we would have shown it by now. i am sticking with bonnell on this one and going with the notion that we are not interested.

You're probably right

MasterIchiro · Post #1083 » by **MasterIchiro** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:18 pm

fatlever wrote:
trins wrote:Okay this post just came up on reddit. I don't know how accurate it is but at least it's something.

http://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/2a ... tephenson/

seeing as how MJ didnt even meet in person with hayward (only by skype) i would be very skeptical that he is meeting with lance. MJ didnt even meet al jefferson in person last year until training camp. my gut says this report is 99.99% garbage.

Well because of Hendo the Hornets might employ a different tactic than a public courtship that might insult Henderson or create friction. With Hayward, they could make it a PR event because Hayward has nearly equal NBA experience at SG + SF, so with him it was not an issue of Henderson's job being on the line, it was more about a change in minutes to either Hendo or MKG or both. With Lance it's about Henderson being stuck on the bench. I think the pecking order is a big issue in NBA clubhouses and I think the Lance stuff, if it's happening, will happen under the radar. Jordan stuck out his neck and said they want to bring in a "superstar" or big name free agent. They haven't fulfilled that goal yet. I would not be surprised if Jordan would try something a little more incognito (I haven't used that word in a looong time) than the Hayward courtship.

That being said, the claimed eyewitness account in question is pure BUNK :lol:

LofJ · Post #1084 » by **LofJ** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:22 pm

I really, REALLY don't want to watch another season of Henderson fadeaways. I might as well start hoping we can move him at the deadline I guess.

MasterIchiro · Post #1085 » by **MasterIchiro** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:29 pm

I agree, seeing Hendo perched atop his totem pole has me really turned off to this team heading into the season. To not upgrade shooting/scoring at the wings after what we witnessed last season is inexcusable. Cho had over a year and they said they planned all year in advance of free agency. It doesn't take a year to plan to overpay Hayward. Where is this plan B? Where is this contingency plan? Everyone is off the board except for Lance so, it has to be Lance. Again, the tie up must be trade offers from other teams, and Charlotte has the luxury of time with Lance and his agent stalling (which they seem to be doing). His agent is going with the silent auction tactic where the bidders are anonymous and the amounts never leaked so that GM's may be influenced by secret sentiment more so than public figures. So Charlotte can vulture these other teams looking to acquire Kevin Love or they can aggressively target trade options like Klay Thompson (seems Warriors cannot give him max money and know he will get it from someone like the Hornets based on our recent track record with a comparable player in Hayward).

Post #1086 » by **yosemiteben** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:35 pm

MasterIchiro wrote:His agent is going with the silent auction tactic where the bidders are anonymous and the amounts never leaked so that GM's may be influenced by secret sentiment more so than public figures.

...or no one is offering.

LofJ · Post #1087 » by **LofJ** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:37 pm

I'd be deliriously happy if we could land Thompson, but there is no way in hell the Wolves trade Love to Golden State without getting Klay back for themselves. I agree about your point that Cho is waiting to see what develops in the trade market though. Love, Bledsoe/Dragic, and Monroe could all very well be moved soon.

MasterIchiro · Post #1088 » by **MasterIchiro** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:37 pm

yosemiteben wrote:
MasterIchiro wrote:His agent is going with the silent auction tactic where the bidders are anonymous and the amounts never leaked so that GM's may be influenced by secret sentiment more so than public figures.

...or no one is offering.

Hate to burst your bubble bucko but I consulted first with the Yankee Oracle on this one. Move along now.

Post #1089 » by **yosemiteben** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:41 pm

MasterIchiro wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:
MasterIchiro wrote:His agent is going with the silent auction tactic where the bidders are anonymous and the amounts never leaked so that GM's may be influenced by secret sentiment more so than public figures.

...or no one is offering.

Hate to burst your bubble bucko but I consulted first with the Yankee Oracle on this one. Move along now.

MI's approach in a nutshell:

mrknowitall215 · Post #1090 » by **mrknowitall215** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:41 pm

MasterIchiro wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:
MasterIchiro wrote:His agent is going with the silent auction tactic where the bidders are anonymous and the amounts never leaked so that GM's may be influenced by secret sentiment more so than public figures.

...or no one is offering.

Hate to burst your bubble bucko but I consulted first with the Yankee Oracle on this one. Move along now.

I, the proclaimed 'Yankee Oracle' said no such thing :lol:

I have no idea or belief on what's exactly going on with Lance Stephenson's free agency outside of maybe Cho isn't interested, and that's why we haven't been seriously linked to him, but I could be totally wrong. It's just a hunch

MasterIchiro · Post #1091 » by **MasterIchiro** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:43 pm

yosemiteben wrote:
MasterIchiro wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:...or no one is offering.

Hate to burst your bubble bucko but I consulted first with the Yankee Oracle on this one. Move along now.

MI's approach in a nutshell:

Eh, Lance is too talented and too big a ticket draw (yes the fans in Indy love his ass) to not be worthy of any offers in this market. Teams are trying to cap his price ceiling because he and his agent want "much more" than the Pacers offer. It's that simple and I can confirm this with the Yankee Oracle.

MasterIchiro · Post #1092 » by **MasterIchiro** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:44 pm

mrknowitall215 wrote:
MasterIchiro wrote:
yosemiteben wrote:...or no one is offering.

Hate to burst your bubble bucko but I consulted first with the Yankee Oracle on this one. Move along now.

I, the proclaimed 'Yankee Oracle' said no such thing

I have no idea or belief on what's exactly going on with Lance Stephenson's free agency outside of maybe Cho isn't interested, and that's why we haven't been seriously linked to him, but I could be totally wrong. It's just a hunch

You can never be totally wrong, Yankee Oracle. I don't believe it.

Post #1093 » by **yosemiteben** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:45 pm

Well teams sure seem willing to pass on Lance - almost every other wing option has been signed. That's not strong evidence that there's a secret bidding war going on.

Bassman · Post #1094 » by **Bassman** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:47 pm

LofJ wrote:I'd be deliriously happy if we could land Thompson, but there is no way in hell the Wolves trade Love to Golden State without getting Klay back for themselves. I agree about your point that Cho is waiting to see what develops in the trade market though. Love, Bledsoe/Dragic, and Monroe could all very well be moved soon.

My concern is that there is no real option we could receive via trade that puts a true quality starting wing (preferably SG) on our team. Any deal we'd make is as a facilitator to helping our competition, and we'd get back lesser players like Waiters (or others even worse than what we've got).

LofJ · Post #1095 » by **LofJ** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:49 pm

Bassman wrote:
LofJ wrote:I'd be deliriously happy if we could land Thompson, but there is no way in hell the Wolves trade Love to Golden State without getting Klay back for themselves. I agree about your point that Cho is waiting to see what develops in the trade market though. Love, Bledsoe/Dragic, and Monroe could all very well be moved soon.

My concern is that there is no real option we could receive via trade that puts a true quality starting wing (preferably SG) on our team. Any deal we'd make is as a facilitator to helping our competition, and we'd get back lesser players like Waiters (or others even worse than what we've got).

Waiters is probably the best that we could realistically expect to be honest.

MasterIchiro · Post #1096 » by **MasterIchiro** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:53 pm

yosemiteben wrote:Well teams sure seem willing to pass on Lance - almost every other wing option has been signed. That's not strong evidence that there's a secret bidding war going on.

Occums razor is you have a 5-tool player 23 years old major contributor to a title contender 2 years running who sells tickets, endears and entertains fans asking for "much more" than 9 million in a market where Avery Bradley gets near 9 million and teams trying to play the "makeup issues" angle downplaying interest trying to sign him for a bargain. Occums razor is this is how negotiations roll. This kind of talent is never ignored. Occum's razor is, you don't ignore this kind of talent. We have a staredown here, a stalemate. Lance's agent is playing the silent auction and the bidders are not wanting their enthusiasm to leak and hoping other team's exuberance won't hurt their cap. You seem highly educated Ben but I sometimes wonder if you're too old school in your negotiation manners. Like, I picture you as an honest businessman, rather than an attorney. But you could've gotten into law school. Maybe you own a small business. Maybe you come from a good family. Just guesses.

Bassman · Post #1097 » by **Bassman** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:55 pm

Plus, who else has the $$ to even offer a contract above Indy? I think it's down to us debating with ourselves. Surely there is a way to get this done? We finally have a chance to obtain a young impact player without giving away assets, in the same off-season that we added a lottery pick that appears to be a future stud, and at the same time we expect Hyphen to emerge as a consistent force at the 3. If we do not stike now....when??

mrknowitall215 · Post #1098 » by **mrknowitall215** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:56 pm

yosemiteben wrote:Well teams sure seem willing to pass on Lance - almost every other wing option has been signed. That's not strong evidence that there's a secret bidding war going on.

There were only a few teams that had the money to pursue Stephenson, and if my memory serves correct it was Indiana (made offer), Charlotte, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas (signed RFA Chandler Parsons), Detroit (RFA Greg Monroe pending), Phoenix (RFA Eric Bledsoe pending), and Boston (would need to find a sign-and-trade partner)

I certainly don't think there's a secret bidding war like 'MasterIchiro' is insinuating, but it's not exactly a outlier of possibility

I knew the market was going to be tough on Stephenson due to his short history of quality production combined with his character issues, but the silence that has been going on from his front since the Pacers' movie & proposal is a bit unusual

Post #1099 » by **JDR720** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:56 pm

MJ said he wanted to make a splash, the only splash left is Lance

MasterIchiro · Post #1100 » by **MasterIchiro** » Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:56 pm

Bassman wrote:Plus, who else has the $$ to even offer a contract above Indy? I think it's down to us debating with ourselves. Surely there is a way to get this done? We finally have a chance to obtain a young impact player without giving away assets, ini the same off-season that we added a lottery pick that appears to be a future stud, and at the same time we expect Hyphen to emerge as a consistent force at the 3. If not now,....when??

Feel confident. We're going to upgrade, somehow.