Clippers Trade Lance Stephenson To Grizzlies In Swap For Jeff Green
Over the past few weeks, rumors were circulating the league about the intentions of the Los Angeles Clippers heading toward the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 18. Superstar forward Blake Griffin was at the center of the majority of these rumors with the team potentially considering sending the 26-year-old elsewhere in a blockbuster deal.
Griffin trade rumors began to die down as the trade deadline got closer and closer. Ultimately, Doc Rivers and company decided against the move and chose to send another notable player packing before Thursday’s deadline.
According to ESPN, the Clippers have agreed to trade Lance Stephenson to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jeff Green:
The Los Angeles Clippers have acquired forward Jeff Green from the Memphis Grizzlies for Lance Stephenson and a future first-round draft pick, sources tell ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Marc Stein.
Ever since Stephenson left the Indiana Pacers a few years ago, the Cincinnati product has struggled to get back to form as one of the more promising young players in the league. Stephenson went from a disappointing short stint with the Charlotte Hornets to possibly an, even more, disappointing stay with the Clippers this season.
It seems as though every move the Clippers have made over the past year or so hasn’t worked out as planned. Acquiring Stephenson, Josh Smith, and Paul Pierce were considered to be moves that would put the Clippers over the top in the Western Conference, but it’s safe to say all acquisitions have been failures.
Along with trading Stephenson to Memphis, the Clippers dealt Smith back to the Houston Rockets earlier this season and Pierce has struggled every since agreeing to sign with the team in free agency over the summer.
Fortunately, the addition of Green might be the right move for the Clippers moving forward. Los Angeles is clearly not in the same elite class as the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, but Green may give the team the spark Smith, Stephenson and Pierce haven’t been capable of this season.
