Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced the team has acquired center Spencer Hawes and forward Matt Barnes from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guard Lance Stephenson.
“We are pleased to add a pair of proven veterans to our team,” Cho said. “Spencer Hawes is an experienced big man whose outside shooting gives us additional flexibility on offense. Matt Barnes is an experienced veteran who knows the NBA.”
The 10th overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, Hawes has played in 573 career games for the Kings, 76ers, Cavaliers and Clippers. He has career averages of 9.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 block in 23.9 minutes, while shooting .459 from the field (2193-4780), .351 from beyond the three-point line (296-843) and .699 from the free-throw line (573-820). He has also played in 26 career playoff games for the 76ers and Clippers, averaging 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.7 minutes.
Hawes saw action in 73 games for the Clippers in 2014-15, starting 15. He averaged 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.5 minutes. His best statistical season came a year earlier in 2013-14, when he played in 53 games for the 76ers and 27 games for the Cavaliers following a mid-season trade. Overall, he averaged career highs of 13.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 30.9 minutes. He shot .456 from the field (403-883), a career-high .416 from beyond the three-point line (128-308) and a career-best .783 from the free-throw line (119-152), while also posting career highs in both field goals and three-point field goals.
Barnes is a 12-year NBA veteran who has played in 779 career games for the Clippers, Kings, Knicks, 76ers, Warriors, Suns, Magic and Lakers. He has career averages of 8.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 23.1 minutes. For his career, he has shot .448 from the field (2339-5222), .338 from beyond the three-point line (776-2298) and .735 from the free-throw line (850-1157). He has also seen action in 79 career playoff games for the Warriors, Magic, Lakers and Clippers, with averages of 7.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 24.6 minutes.
Barnes appeared in 76 games for the Clippers in 2014-15, starting 74, and averaged 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in a career-high 29.9 minutes. He shot .444 from the field (277-624), .362 from beyond the three-point line (136-376) and .779 from the free-throw line (74-95).
Stephenson played in 61 games, with 25 starts, for the Hornets in 2014-15 after signing as a free agent on July 21, 2014. He averaged 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 25.8 minutes. Stephenson, who missed 19 games due to injury, scored in double figures 22 times and tallied two double-doubles on the season.
“We’d like to thank Lance for his contributions last season,” Cho said. “He was a consummate professional during his time with us.”
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