After Bradley's Playoffs, How About This?

[jpotter33]

I've posted this trade in the past, with mostly negative feedback. However, after seeing Bradley neutralized in the playoffs by the Cavs taking away his jumper, how do people feel about it now?

Bradley, Zeller, #16, #28 OR #33

for

Stephenson, #9

Granted, this would really only work if the Hornets didn't love someone at #9. Currently, they're projected to take Stanley Johnson, who seems redundant to MKG (though admittedly with a much higher ceiling). Kaminsky, Turner, Oubre, Dekker, and Grant are the five behind them, so I'm not really sure that they'd really love any of those guys. Either way, this would be a condition.

They've been rumored to have interest in Bradley, who would seemingly be an ideal offensive backcourt mate with Kemba with a very reasonable contract. (Though they might be worried about size in the backcourt.) They've also been intent on dealing Stephenson due to his lack of fit (and their misuse of him), even being rumored to attach a first to get out of his contract or get an upgrade. After this year, Bradley would be an upgrade in the back court in their system, and they could even get a Booker, Lyles, or Looney with #16.

For us, though not a perfect match, Stephenson would be a better fit than Bradley with Smart in the back court, because he can virtually act as the de-facto point guard and share ball-handling responsibilities with Smart. He'd also provide us with an almost unprecedented backcourt defense with great size. Though Smart has shown himself as a capable outside shooter and is projected to get better with more summer work, Smart and Stephenson don't necessarily pose a very lethal shooting combination, so we'd need a capable shooter at the 3. We already have Young, but if we nabbed Johnson in the draft that'd give us another good-shooting youngster with a high ceiling.

And for those worrying about Stephenson's fit or attitude, I think Stevens has shown this year that his philosophy is to fit the game around the players. Furthermore, I think Stevens would also be able to quell any attitude problems that he might have, though I've heard they've been way overblown and he's just a super-competitive guy like Smart.

However, if he doesn't work out or causes problems, then we'd only have to deal with him for a year, because his contract is a team option for 2016-2017. To me, this is a win-win deal for us, because Stephenson still has a TON of talent when utilized correctly. And I think we have the right coach and type of players to make it work. Just think, we could have a lineup of:

PG: Smart, IT
SG: Stephenson, Turner
SF: Johnson, Young, Wallace
PF: Sully, KO
C: Free Agent?

We'd still have plenty of cap room to use and Wallace's big expiring as trade bait, along with all the rest of our assets. We can still max out a guy like DJ and even upgrade our four spot if we wanted to/had a guy willing to.

So yay or nay? Does Charlotte say no or want something different?

[Who]

I am sold -- so long as Stanley Johnson is available at #9. Or, maybe Hezonja.

If it is WCS or Porzingis though, I am not sure.

[Celtics4ever]

Here is some more negative feedback, I do not ever want Stephenson on this team, he is a bad influence on the locker room and should never wear the green.

[jambr380]

I commented on your post in the other thread and would most likely agree to it, but what if Utah really was offering up #12 for Bradley? Is that less risky than taking on Stephenson (who may just be cut after the year)?

[Who]

Just think, we could have a lineup of:

PG: Smart, IT
SG: Stephenson, Turner
SF: Johnson, Young, Wallace
PF: Sully, KO
C: Free Agent?

Greg Monroe would be a really nice fit at center. I'd like to see an offensively capable center with that group of perimeter players and Sully / KO.

[TheFlex]

Overpay. I think you might be underrating Zeller and definitely Bradley.

[CelticSooner]

It depends on who's available at 9. I agree with what was said about Stephenson above. His attitude is a problem and it's time to start moving on from reclamation projects.

[jpotter33]

I am sold -- so long as Stanley Johnson is available at #9. Or, maybe Hezonja.

If it is WCS or Porzingis though, I am not sure.

Really? I almost would want WCS over Johnson, though that's a win either way in my book. With WCS, Smart, and Stephenson, we'd have the core of a defensive juggernaut for years to come, though scoring would probably be an issue.

[jpotter33]

Overpay. I think you might be underrating Zeller and definitely Bradley.

Well, the thing with Bradley and Stephenson is that Bradley is a little better shooter than Stephenson, but other than that Indiana Stephenson is just as good if not better than Bradley at everything else. He also provides capable passing, ball-handling, rebounding, and size that Bradley just simply can't.

If they both had the same contract, I would definitely not do this trade. But since his contract is only guaranteed for next year, the potential steal that it would be suggests it's a no-brainer. To get the possibility of reclaiming borderline All-Star Stephenson (which I think Stevens can do) in addition to moving up in the draft to grab a WCS or Johnson is just too good to pass up.

This becomes even more of a non-brainer deal if we whiff on getting any decent free agents this year.

[jpotter33]

Here is some more negative feedback, I do not ever want Stephenson on this team, he is a bad influence on the locker room and should never wear the green.

The same thing was said about Turner last year, but he's been totally fine for us all year.

[jpotter33]

I commented on your post in the other thread and would most likely agree to it, but what if Utah really was offering up #12 for Bradley? Is that less risky than taking on Stephenson (who may just be cut after the year)?

Since his contract is only guaranteed for one more year, I think the risk is worth taking on. The worst that could happen is we lose a role player, move up in the draft, and open up a ton of playing time for Young at the 2 spot.

[CelticSooner]

Here is some more negative feedback, I do not ever want Stephenson on this team, he is a bad influence on the locker room and should never wear the green.

The same thing was said about Turner last year, but he's been totally fine for us all year.

Yeah inconsistently good.

[jpotter33]

Here is some more negative feedback, I do not ever want Stephenson on this team, he is a bad influence on the locker room and should never wear the green.

The same thing was said about Turner last year, but he's been totally fine for us all year.

Yeah inconsistently good.

But not a locker room problem, which is what I was referring to.

[Ilikesports17]

Its funny because Walker/Stephenson should complement eachother perfectly. Walker is the lightning quick scorer who can shoot. While Stephenson is a big physical gaurd who rebounds well.

The bottom line for us is we cant say no to this trade. The risk-reward is great. At 9 we are garunteed 1 of Okafor, Towns, Mudiay, Russell, WinslowWCS, Porzingis, Hezonja, Johnson and we get a swing at Lance.

Lance and pick #9 are both garunteed to have higher ceilings than anything we give up here.

Does it make sense for Charlotte?

You mentioned they want AB, that doesnt make sense to me but if they want him, this trade might make sense. Zeller is another nice add for them as well.

This trade only happens if they are desperate to move on from Lance. They just dont get enough talent in return to justify giving up a top 10 pick.

Does anyone know how Charlotte values Vonleh?

If they value him less than pick #9 this year Id happily substitute him into the trade I really like his game plus he is from haverhill.

I think Charlotte wants more. Maybe one of our better #1s or maybe they want a James Young throw in, but if they do the deal as you proposed or with Vonleh in the place of pick #9 I would be ecstatic.

[LooseCannon]

The Celtics need better three-point shooting at SF more than they need better ball-handling at SG, plus Stephenson would be a downgrade in floor-spreading ability.