Now they have, signing Lance Stephenson to a three-year contract after an all-night negotiating session, according to The Observer's Rick Bonnell.
You know what? I would love to be wrong.
Stephenson at his best will make the Hornets so much more dangerous. He is the reliable third scoring option last year's team never really had. The former Indiana Pacer will stretch the floor for Al Jefferson, help out Kemba Walker and irritate opponents defensively.
The best-case scenario is Stephenson becomes Charlotte's version of Dennis Rodman for the Chicago Bulls in the late 1990s -- a bizarre personality, but so effective on those Bulls' title teams that they kept him around (with Michael Jordan keeping Rodman in line).
And the price the Hornets have paid for Stephenson -- at least by NBA standards -- strikes me as quite reasonable. He will cost about 40 percent less than Gordon Hayward would. And in terms of sheer talent, Stephenson has more. He led the league in triple-doubles last season.
But I haven't changed my mind in only a week. This was a late-night gamble in Las Vegas -- yes, the deal was literally struck while the Hornets were playing summer-league ball in Vegas. And anyone who has seen "The Hangover" movies knows how late nights in Vegas often pan out.
As I wrote in last week's column: Ride with Stephenson and you have an occasionally faster car, but also one with no safety devices, as well as a car missing both its headlights with brakes that work only occasionally.
Maybe Jefferson and Walker can lead this team well enough that Stephenson falls into line. Maybe the Hornets' locker room is good enough it can get Stephenson not to blow into LeBron James' ear or walk over into the Heat's huddle and start listening to the plays. One thing is for sure: You don't want Stephenson and P.J. Hairston out on the town, alone, anytime this season during a road trip.
It will be fun to watch, though. As a journalist, even though I don't like the move, I am going to enjoy the heck out of it. Stephenson is a sports columnist's dream -- an electrifying extremist that everyone has an opinion about. Even him coming to Charlotte is bizarre in its own way -- he took less guaranteed money (three years, approximately $27 million) from a worse team to come to North Carolina. He's obviously betting on himself, thinking his next contract will be even bigger.
As for the Hornets, what happened in Vegas won't stay in Vegas. Charlotte didn't want to do this deal originally -- remember, Hayward was the first choice -- but ended up doing it anyway as its other "proven wing scorer" options dried up. And this sort of thing worked once before for awhile for the then-Bobcats -- when Stephen Jackson helped lead the team to a playoff appearance in 2010. And Jackson had done a lot worse stuff than Stephenson ever had.
So here we go.
Crank up the rollercoaster.
That click-click-click sound you always hear as the coaster gets pulled to the top of the tallest hill? That's what the Hornets are hearing now. Hold on tight, because there will be no getting off now.
Photo: Miami Heat fans display a large cutout of Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson during the first half Game 6 in the NBA basketball playoffs Eastern Conference finals on Friday, May 30, 2014, in Miami. AP
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21 comments:
Again, leave the NBA reporting to those who follow and understand the game. Scott, you should stick with the fluff pieces on the Panthers. Real journalism is not your strong suit.
should be interesting...wish they'd gone after chandler parsons
"Ride with Stephenson and you have an occasionally faster car, but also one with no safety devices, as well as a car missing both its headlights with brakes that work only occasionally."
This assessment is a bit harsh...I think you meant to say that about Titus Young....
Way off here Scott......this is not the nba of the 90s.....this signing will only provide more wins for this ball club .....we are major players on the East......with the best coach......
not even debatable that stephenson at 9 a year beats hayward at 15+ a year.
he and kemba have already played together a ton.
they are a kevin love trade away from having the building blocks to a long term contender in place. I would throw jefferson and the max # of picks allowable to make it happen. this is actually the opposite of the tyrus thomas deal......we gave up no picks.....and instead of being bid up to 40 million over 5 years, lance was basically bid down from that range to a shorter term deal as options dried up.
give cho a trophy for a solid offseason. 13 under contract and it's a much better 13 than last year's group. with a ton of room to improve with time as guys grow up. including 24 year old stephenson.
Someone help me out. Has Lance had any off the court issues? Or have they all been on the court?
Lance is a goof ball, but I don't think he's a locker room issue. Often, I think we mistake playful behavior for defiant or abusive behavior. Blowing in someone's ear and peering into a huddle is childish and questionable - perhaps unsportsmanlike at worst, but I don't think it hurts a team. Was it unsportsmanlike when Larry Bird used to whisper in opponents ears to tell them how many different ways he would score on him. What about when the Patriots organization spied on team practices? Competitors gain edges is quirky ways.
I would argue that a silent, unhappy, defiant player (ie. Ben Gordon) can do more to harm a locker room than either of Stephenson's acts that caused a media firestorm. There's no question that Stephenson, or PJ for that matter, want to win. Both are competitors that will buy into the system, especially since Clifford has already proven to be skilled and professional in holding players accountable. I think we benefited (in both PJ and Lance's case) of an unnecessarily high valuation of risk by other teams.
That said - there's no excuses for hitting girlfriends (like Stephenson did in 2010) or punching high schoolers (or anyone) in pickup games, but I don't think the locker room will suffer due to adding these two. I think it will be enhanced because both are extremely determined to win. Al owns the paint anyway so these guys have less of the court to quibble over from the start. :)
As an aside- I find it interesting that coaches and media perceive intrateam football preseason fights as healthy signs of competition, while in basketball a player is considered a behavior problem for blowing in another player's ear. The variance in reactions could be due to the difference in physicality across sports, but I think both sports are team dynamic related and don't understand why our tolerance for basketball behavior is so much lower. Maybe Malice at the Palace changed it? Yesterday, I watched the famous 1994 OJ game with the Knicks/Rockets recently and John Starks got frustrated and kicked a rotary phone clear off the scorers table, almost hitting the fan sitting in the front row. There was no foul call, no stoppage of play - the sports casters just joked that he was mad. Can you imagine Stephenson (or any player) doing that today? We are so sensitive to player actions today and have so much TMZ documentation - it's ridiculous. Ok - I'm done - apologies for the rant.
So Scott Flower (yes, I meant to spell it that way) wants a team of choir boys? Well, that was one thing wrong with last year's team, as you need players like Stephenson to mentally give you the edge over your opponent. He is a triple-double player and that is what you are signing.
Instead, Mr.Flower wants squeaky clean players, like Gerald Henderson, with no bite in them, to start for the Hornets. You aren't going to get better with perfect role models for players and Stephenson is simply a flaky guy. This was a terrific signing and one that does not fit with Mr. Flower's church-like behavior. So, what, this is professional basketball and player like Stephenson and Hairston are exactly what you need to balance the locker room personality and give strength to the team on the court.
Sorry Mr. Flower,you may preach the gospel, yet you will be singing an entirely different tune when Stephenson helps the Hornets win games this year.
I have a funny feeling the Hornets aren't done yet. A big logjam at shooting guard. Possible Hairston might be trade bait?
Just because Scott turns his nose up when he gets his picture taken does not mean he is looking down on Stephenson. Lance took a chance trying to get into LeBoob's head that could have cost him his front teeth, however we don't know that the coach didn't talk to Lance about trying to get into LeB's head beforehand.
At least Scott it's not a mugshot...
Tto the person who thinks role models can't win, See the Spurs. Ok I'm done.
"And Jackson had done a lot worse stuff than Stephenson ever had."
Why is everyone in the media talking about Stephenson blowing in LeBron's ear as his primary character flaw? The dude was arrested for shoving his GF down a flight of stairs and slamming her head into the ground. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5467630)
I think the signing is great for the Hornets, but why is there not an honest conversation here?
Hey Kenny, good hearing from you after all these years. I agree with what you said, except PJ. That guy is trouble in human form, he can't help it, he finds it, it finds him. Swap him for something of value, if possible, or give him an ultimatum, one more screw up, get in your car (your own car) and leave.
Rodman?
Watch out with the church comments! Praise God they are bringing in big names. He can play tough but be nice about it. Keeping your composure never fails, nice people are winners to.
This signing will be worth at least 3 seeds better in the playoffs for next year. It's time to give Michael Jordan credit. Many of you criticized him for being to loyal to his friends in the front office. Well he let a friend walk and gave Rich Cho (great hire by the way) the authority he needed to give him. This team is really beginning to shape up! Jordan spent money to bring back the Hornets name. The hire of Cho delivered 2 promising draft picks this year. And signing Stephenson strengthens us while weakening Indiana. Jordan is becoming a great owner!
Charlottean, you might as well give up on the kevin love fantasy. They aren't trading for him and there have been no credible sources that have even mentioned it as a possibility. Why you think the hornets would actually trade big Al is even crazier especially considering the rebuilding twolves don't want an almost 30 year old center who they've already got rid of once before. Get over kevin love, it's not happening.
Scott, don't look now but you are becoming irrelevant as a sportswriter. You should just get used to being wrong. This is no movie - these are decisions made by people "in the know" (unlike yourself) who have a lot at stake regarding their decisions. So if not Lance, then who, Scott? Who is available that would help this team as much as Lance would? I see you hurling criticism at the Hornet's decisions, but what are your answers? Usually I tell people "don't quit your day job." In your case - maybe you should.
Charlotte is a city that would rather lose with choirboys than compete with edgy guys. The city has never won anything and seems perfectly with being bland and irrelevant.
We have him now. We need to make him feel like part of the team. His former teammates liked him. Evan Turner was brought in to take Lance's minutes. There was friction there. Lance knows he has to play good here. If he wants the big contract after three years. And after two years, Management can let him go. So there isn't much commitment from either side. We will be good for two years at least. Question; Can Lance play The four spot? Zeller isn't the answer. To confused on how to play. Vonleh is Awlful young. Need help at the four. Williams maybe starting the season at four.
So all we hear is Lance blowing in LBJ's ear big deal remember when Zo and the Heat had the Bulls in a spot and Rodman slapped Zo on the butt. Zo wasn't the same after that and the Bulls went on to win a ring. Also we took Captain Jack and it worked out well but remember before he was here and that little thing in the D that happened.
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