The Charlotte Hornets are trash right now. There’s no other way to describe it. They’re playing like that trash bag that is wet at the bottom because you couldn’t be bothered to finish that milkshake you wanted couple of days ago.
They need to make some changes. Fast. I don’t know what particular changes they should do but what they’re doing now isn’t working. It was cute watching Stephenson and Kemba hit game winners, but now it’s just ugly. Grantland’s Zach Lowe has attempted to figure out what they need. Spoiler alert. They need to do some trading.
The Hornets are searching for upgrades on the wing and at power forward, per those sources, and they are willing to talk turkey on basically anyone other than Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson. Free agents signed this past offseason can’t be traded until December 15, and few would be surprised if the Hornets make and take calls on Lance Stephenson ahead of that trigger date.
Charlotte ranks 27th in points per 100 possessions, and Stephenson has been a train wreck. He’s shooting just 37 percent overall and a ghastly 7-of-38 from deep. He passes up open 3s, choosing instead to whip out an array of fancy crossovers and behind-the-back jobs that go nowhere. Stephenson’s drive-and-dish game has opened up good looks for teammates, but his shooting issues have outweighed his bursts of productive creativity.
He’s clanking almost every pull-up jumper on the pick-and-roll, which means that when Stephenson can’t get all the way to the cup, he’s a borderline liability. Opposing defenses know that Stephenson won’t pull from deep, and they’ve taken an extra step or so away from him when he doesn’t have the ball. Charlotte’s offense is in clogged toilet mode
That last line made me laugh. But unfortunately. Charlotte is a train wreck. I feel sorry for Kemba and especially Al Jefferson. He just can’t be on a team that can win can he? If he was on a title contending team. He would probably have some rings by now. Stephenson needs to stop trying to be the point guard. Kemba is there for a reason.
