For, well, about what you’d expect: A bad contract or two of about equal value. Here’s ESPN’s summary of Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes, the two players the Hornets are getting in return for Stephenson:
While a change of scenery might help Stephenson, the Hornets may be hoping the same is true for Hawes, who signed a four-year, $23 million deal with the Clippers last summer.
Hawes struggled through his worst season since his rookie year, averaging 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists for the Clippers in 2014-15.
Hawes, 27, was buried at the end of the bench during the 2015 playoffs, where he was held out of half the Clippers’ 14 postseason games and played more than 10 minutes just twice, both coming in blowouts.
Barnes, 35, is in the final year of his contract and will make $3.5 million this upcoming season. He averaged 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists while starting 74 games in 2014-15.
Barnes’ on-court temper and penchant for getting fined, however, constantly irked head coach and president of basketball operations Doc Rivers, who has been looking to deal Barnes for about two years.
