Hornets Want Lopez For Stephenson

[Dexterity]

All I can say is at this point he has to be traded because with all this trade talk, there is no idea what is going on in that dudes volatile head.

The last thing we need is Lance making this season even worse than it already is.

Hopefully there's as much interest as people are saying. Hopefully they get in a bidding war over him.

I'm just gonna be pissed if we trade Lance for a PF & are stuck with Henderson starting at SG while PJ & Neal ride the pine. I'm gonna be very pissed. Because that's exactly what it sounds like Charlotte wants.

Stephenson & Williams for Lopez

Kemba

Hendo

MKG

Zeller

Big Al

Roberts

Neal

Hairston

Brooks

Biz

I'd much rather give Lance, Marvin, Hendo for Johnson. Then we'd have to find a backup PF or play Vonleh.

Kemba

Johnson

MKG

Zeller

Big Al

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Lopez is supposed to be returning from injury this week and according to people in Brooklyn he just doesn't fit well with the team because he creates a spacing issue as where Plumlee provides much more space for the guards to roam.

 

A problem that we would run into is.... how do Lopez and Al play together?

 

A possible high-low post with Lopez and Jefferson might work as Lopez can hit the 18 foot jumper. UNC does something very similar with Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks.

 

That's really the only way I see those two players playing together.

[Dexterity]

Lopez is supposed to be returning from injury this week and according to people in Brooklyn he just doesn't fit well with the team because he creates a spacing issue as where Plumlee provides much more space for the guards to roam.

A problem that we would run into is.... how do Lopez and Al play together?

A possible high-low post with Lopez and Jefferson might work as Lopez can hit the 18 foot jumper. UNC does something very similar with Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks.

That's really the only way I see those two players playing together.

Trade Lance & Hendo for Lopez & bring him off the bench.

Walker

Hairston

MKG

Zeller

Big Al

Roberts

Neal

Marvin

Lopez

Biyombo

PJ will provide outside shooting & create spacing for both Kemba & Big Al. Playing primarily with a shooter would do wonders for Kemba. Zeller has improved his range & can play outside the paint to give Al room to work, plus he's a much better post defender than Marvin.

2nd unit would have good outside shooting & allow Lopez to work alone in the post. Biyombo can roam & grab every board & block every shot until he could out in 10 minute.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Trade Lance & Hendo for Lopez & bring him off the bench.

Walker

Hairston

MKG

Zeller

Big Al

Roberts

Neal

Marvin

Lopez

Biyombo

PJ will provide outside shooting & create spacing for both Kemba & Big Al. Playing primarily with a shooter would do wonders for Kemba. Zeller has improved his range & can play outside the paint to give Al room to work, plus he's a much better post defender than Marvin.

2nd unit would have good outside shooting & allow Lopez to work alone in the post. Biyombo can roam & grab every board & block every shot until he could out in 10 minute.

 

That would definitely work but would you want to pay $15M to a bench player.

 

Not to mention, I'm guessing Lopez would have a huge problem with coming off the bench.

[teeray]

I am not worried about how Al and Lopez play together on offense. My main concern would be them playing together on defense.

I am old school (which is why I am wrong most of the time) but if I could get two bigs that can score efficiently I am all over it. They can both knock in the midrange shot so I think they could create enough space to operate.

The question is, how do we defend pick and roll if both guys are on the floor. They both sag on the pick and force the guards to chase over the top.

But again, I am a sucker for bigs that can score and shoot @50% from the field so I would do it

[Dexterity]

That would definitely but would you want to pay $15M to a bench player.

Not to mention, I'm guessing Lopez would have a huge problem with coming off the bench.

He'd still get 30 mpg & the offense would be built entirely around him when he's on the floor. Bench player technically, but he would be in a better position than playing 3rd fiddle to Williams/Johnson or Walker/Jefferson.

That said, what's the end game? That would improve the team but Lopez isn't gonna make you a contender. What's the goal? Also, you have to consider the implications. What free agent is gonna sign with Charlotte if we shìt on Lance & dump him 20 games in.

Personally, I think this is all smoke & BS. I don't think they're gonna trade Lance. Not unless it's a deal that rapes the other team & they get a crazy return for him. I'd rather trade Henderson & Marvin for a PF. Would be nice if we could trade them for David West.

I wouldn't be surprised if Clifford, Cho, & MJ have a sit down with Lance. IMO, he is only gonna fit with this roster if he's playing a Manu 6th man role. Sit him down & say hey- we want you here but we need you to come off the bench. We need you to be our 6th man. Kemba/Al operate the starters & you come in as the go-to-guy on the 2nd unit. Run the team through you. If you aren't okay with that we're gonna have to move you.

Play Kemba & Lance 30mpg, but only 6mpg or so together. They are horrible together. Let them play off Neal & PJ.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I am not worried about how Al and Lopez play together on offense. My main concern would be them playing together on defense.

I am old school (which is why I am wrong most of the time) but if I could get two bigs that can score efficiently I am all over it. They can both knock in the midrange shot so I think they could create enough space to operate.

The question is, how do we defend pick and roll if both guys are on the floor. They both sag on the pick and force the guards to chase over the top.

But again, I am a sucker for bigs that can score and shoot @50% from the field so I would do it

 

Lopez has actually gotten significantly better at defense. He's long and surprisingly nimble on his feet.

 

The only time he would significantly struggle is when we face teams with legit stretch fours.

 

That's when Zeller would definitely need to start.

 

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

He'd still get 30 mpg & the offense would be built entirely around him when he's on the floor. Bench player technically, but he would be in a better position than playing 3rd fiddle to Williams/Johnson or Walker/Jefferson.

That said, what's the end game? That would improve the team but Lopez isn't gonna make you a contender. What's the goal? Also, you have to consider the implications. What free agent is gonna sign with Charlotte if we shìt on Lance & dump him 20 games in.

Personally, I think this is all smoke & BS. I don't think they're gonna trade Lance. Not unless it's a deal that rapes the other team & they get a crazy return for him. I'd rather trade Henderson & Marvin for a PF. Would be nice if we could trade them for David West.

I wouldn't be surprised if Clifford, Cho, & MJ have a sit down with Lance. IMO, he is only gonna fit with this roster if he's playing a Manu 6th man role. Sit him down & say hey- we want you here but we need you to come off the bench. We need you to be our 6th man. Kemba/Al operate the starters & you come in as the go-to-guy on the 2nd unit. Run the team through you. If you aren't okay with that we're gonna have to move you.

Play Kemba & Lance 30mpg, but only 6mpg or so together. They are horrible together. Let them play off Neal & PJ.

 

How does he get 30mpg? If he's getting 30 mpg, he's sharing time on the court with Al (that was what I pointed to being my main dilemma). How do those coexist offensively and somewhat defensively.

 

You do make a good point about free agents growing weary of Charlotte due to the lack of loyalty. However, in Lance's case, if the parts don't fit they don't fit. You'll break the entire puzzle trying to jam a piece into the wrong place.

 

And if it's all smoke and Lance comes off the bench then Hendo has to go.

 

I can't watch him start anymore

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I know Al has been great for us but what would you guys say about the following trade...

 

Jefferson, Stephenson, Biyombo, and Henderson for Lopez, Johnson, Anderson, and Plumlee.

 

PG: Walker, Roberts, Pargo

SG: Johnson, Neal, Taylor

SF: MKG, Anderson, Hairston

PF: Zeller, Williams, Vonleh

C: Lopez, Plumlee, Maxiell

 

In my opinion this would be a very difficult trade to do but I think it gives us the opportunity to be a playoff team (maybe 5th seed tops) and then prepare for life after Johnson when he retires. 

 

The reasoning is, with Hairston and Neal (assuming he is re-signed), we are in better position to recover from say a Joe Johnson retirement than an Al Jefferson retirement. With Lopez only being 26 you don't have to worry about him retiring for up to another 8 years (as long as his health holds up).

 

That way you have a core of Walker, Neal, MKG, Hairston Zeller, Vonleh, Lopez, and Plumlee.

 

You're potentially a Stephen Curry away from competing.

 

Just an outrageous thought.

[Dexterity]

Do you really wanna pay 33-year-old Johnson & glass legs Lopez $80,000,000 for a 2 year rental?

[Dexterity]

fug it, there were rumors Melo wants out of NY...

Stephenson

Henderson

Williams

Anthony

Hardaway Jr

Walker

Hairston

MKG

Anthony

Jefferson

Roberts

Neal/Hardaway

Taylor

Zeller/Vonleh

Biyombo

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Do you really wanna pay 33-year-old Johnson & glass legs Lopez $80,000,000 for a 2 year rental?

 

 

If Lopez can stay healthy he's not a rental (I know a big "if").

 

However, we're in the same boat with Al that Brooklyn is in with Johnson.

 

Their careers are winding down, we need to think about the big picture and the big picture says that Al probably isn't going to be a part of it.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

fug it, there were rumors Melo wants out of NY...

Stephenson

Henderson

Williams

Anthony

Hardaway Jr

Walker

Hairston

MKG

Anthony

Jefferson

Roberts

Neal/Hardaway

Taylor

Zeller/Vonleh

Biyombo

 

If we got Anthony and Hardaway for scraps like that, I'd pack everyone's bags and drive them to the airport lol.

[Dexterity]

If we got Anthony and Hardaway for scraps like that, I'd pack everyone's bags and drive them to the airport lol.

Stephenson

Vonleh

Williams

Henderson

2 1st Rd picks

NY wouldn't get a better offer for Melo.