The Boston Globe reports part of the problem in Charlotte, in addition to their inability to hit shots, prevent the other team from making shots or win games, is the attitude of free agent pick up Lance Stephenson. Stephenson reportedly is, you guessed it, "clashing with teammates."
According to league sources, Stephenson has clashed with teammates, and coach Steve Clifford has placed the onus of Stephenson's adjustment on the team's veteran players, hoping they could police themselves and convince Stephenson to become more of a team player. Stephenson may become a more attractive piece near the Feb. 19 trade deadline, but the Hornets would want value in return.
via Celtics, Mavericks get what they want out of Rajon Rondo deal - Sports - The Boston Globe.
I, for one, am shocked at this development.
Look, the Hornets wanted to make a major jump in the East. To do that, they needed a talent upgrade. They first took a shot at Gordon Hayward, offering him a max contract, which seemed like too much for the young wing. The Jazz matched, and despite the Jazz's struggles, Hayward has been awesome for Utah. So they got Stephenson. Sometimes you gamble and come up short. The Hornets' biggest mistake from the offseason may honestly have been not bringing back Josh McRoberts, who gave them the defender, passer, scorer and facilitator they need.
Meanwhile, Stephenson has been a flaming pile of disaster on Charlotte's lawn, which is why the Hornets have explored trading him. But they haven't had much luck, according to CBSSports.com's Ken Berger:
The Hornets aren't having much luck drumming up quality offers for Lance Stephenson, who they signed to a three-year, $27.4 million deal this past summer. After winning 43 games last season and making the playoffs, Charlotte is an abysmal 7-19 -- and chemistry, or lack of it, is a big part of the problem. The Pacers have had high-level internal talks about making a play for Stephenson, sources say, but there's a lot of hesitation -- and for good reason.
via Trade Buzz: The Suns' Goran Dragic dilemma and other trade news - CBSSports.com.
"Hey guys, this guy we just signed to a three-year deal is a total disaster for us and has murdered our locker room chemistry beyond all recognition. Who wants him?! Come and get him!"
(Sound of crickets.)
This isn't the first time Stephenson has clashed with teammates, far from it. Another example was last spring, when Stephenson and Evan Turner came to blows.
The Hornets are stuck, but it's not all because of Stephenson. Kemba Walker's shooting woes are problematic, but the biggest issue is Charlotte's defense -- the Hornets were great defensively last year -- without a key rim protector, something I talked about with Steve Clifford last year. That's been absent this season, and it's hard to pinpoint exactly why that is, which is when you turn to chemistry as a cause. Effort takes you a long way on defense, and effort suffers when you don't get along with your teammates.
The Hornets still have time to turn this around because they play in the East. But at 8-19, they're right up against it, even as bad as the East is.
