Los Angeles Clippers Make Great Move To Acquire Jeff Green And Shed Lance Stephenson

No big names, at least according to what has been reported to this point, shifted teams at the 2016  NBA trade deadline. Most of the trade speculation around the Los Angeles Clippers surrounded Blake Griffin, but at the wire ahead of the 3 p.m. ET deadline they agreed to send swingman Lance Stephenson and a future first-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for forward Jeff Green.

Dan Woike of the Orange County Register was first to report that Stephenson was on the move, and ESPN’s Marc Stein added the details of the first-round pick going to Memphis in the deal.

Source: Lance Stephenson has been traded to Memphis

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) February 18, 2016

ESPN sources say Clippers and Grizzlies managed to get trade in before 3 PM: Lance Stephenson and a future first-round pick for Jeff Green

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 18, 2016

The Clippers had a significant need for a capable small forward, which Stephenson has not been at all (4.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game this season). Green (12.2 points per game this season) can provide scoring punch in whatever role he fills for the Clippers, and he has been on a hot streak recently (19.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game over the final eight games before the All-Star break).

Adding Green will not make the Clippers a serious title contender, but he can capably fill a spot that has mostly been a black hole for any sort of notable production for the team. With the added benefit of unloading Stephenson, who had a minimal role and was not producing much anyway, the Clippers made one of the better trades we saw on Thursday.