The most impactful trade of Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline appears to have come at the buzzer, as the Los Angeles Clippers have shipped Lance Stephenson and a first-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Jeff Green, per multiple media reports.
Stephenson, 25, has been the subject of trade speculation for most of the year -- with talks heating up as we inched close to the deadline. The struggling swingman is averaging 4.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in 2015-16. Stephenson was acquired by the Clippers this offseason for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes, but the team decided to punt on him and give up a future first-rounder in exchange for a proven commodity in Jeff Green.
Stephenson's contract has a $9.4 million team options for 2016-17, giving Memphis three months to decide whether or not he fits into their long-term plans. More Clippers and Grizzlies news and reaction inside the Chat Sports iPhone and Android apps!
As for Green, the 29-year-old forward is having a season in line with his usual year-by-year output -- averaging 12.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while hitting 43.1% of his shots from the floor in 29.1 minutes per game.
Green's defense has always been a question mark during his seven years in the league, but he's the type of heat-check 3/4 hybrid who can fill it up at a moment's notice. He'll give the Clippers a needed secondary scoring option as they look to close the gap between themselves and the Western Conference's power trio of the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
More news on this story as it develops.
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