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Where the Charlotte Hornets Should Trade Lance Stephenson

By HP Basketball Network

Nov 28, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) complains after being called for a foul during the second half of the game against the Golden State Warriors at Time Warner Cable Arena. Warriors win 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) complains after being called for a foul during the second half of the game against the Golden State Warriors at Time Warner Cable Arena. Warriors win 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) stands on the court during a break in the action against the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hornets 112-87. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) stands on the court during a break in the action against the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hornets 112-87. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Hornets Should Trade Lance Stephenson to the Sacramento Kings

By Miles Wray (@mileswray)

Trade Package: Lance Stephenson for Derrick Williams + Reggie Evans + Ray McCollum

Pros for Hornets: Future flexibility. The Hornets get an effective audition with Williams before he enters restricted free agency, a chance to fortify their suddenly-evaporated defensive strengths with the relentless Evans (also a free agent at the end of the season), and a potential future prospect in McCallum. They can decide to commit to Williams and/or pursue Evans in the summer, or they could decide to press forward into 2015-16 with some newfound cap flexibility.

Cons for Hornets: They are trading away easily the best individual player in the trade, and could end up on the wrong end of a lopsided VORP calculation once this trade has had a few years to play out. But alas, can the Charlotte braintrust really expect to receive an overall better player if they’re attempting to deal Stephenson with his value at its lowest?

Pros for Kings: If the Kings really were trying to trade for Josh Smith over the summer, I’m sure they’ll find Stephenson’s contract a total bargain no matter what!

Cons for Kings: With Stephenson, Rudy Gay, DeMarcus Cousins, and Darren Collison on the same roster, the Kings might occasionally rip the game ball to shreds as precious shot attempts are fought over.

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