The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly close to agreeing on a trade to send Lance Stephenson to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Channing Frye.
Finally, something. It isn’t the blockbuster trade everyone was searching for, involving Blake Griffin whose name can’t stay out of NBA trade rumors in 2016. Instead, something smaller, but important as it delivers a good player to the franchise. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers are nearing an agreement that would send power forward Channing Frye to Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Clippers are nearing agreement on a deal to acquire Orlando's Channing Frye, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 17, 2016
In exchange for Frye, the Clippers would send Lance Stephenson (who the Clippers traded for this summer), C.J. Wilcox (the team’s 2014 first-round pick), and a future second-round pick to the Magic.
Nothing is complete as of yet, and here’s where things get a bit complicated. After Woj revealed Orlando and Los Angeles to be in discussions for Frye, it was immediately stated nothing is final, and the Clippers are attempting to further gauge the market for Lance Stephenson — if nothing better transpires for Lance, they’d return to the Frye deal and execute prior to the deadline expiring.
If Lance is acquired by the Orlando Magic, Woj and others report the shooting guard would immediately be waived or bought out, allowing for Stephenson to become an unrestricted free agent and choose his next NBA destination — where the world of Lance goes, no one knows.
Sources: If Frye deal to Clippers goes through on Wednesday, Stephenson would never play a game for Orlando. Magic will waive him.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 17, 2016
It’s the typical Doc Rivers trade, sacrificing the team’s lone assets to improve in the now. Stephenson was never given the proper opportunity to prove he’s a fit on this team, regardless what the numbers say. And the numbers were good: of the team’s starting lineups, none had a better net trading than the traditional four plus Lance at small forward. And Wilcox, no one knows for sure if he’ll be good. The D-League isn’t an indicator of talent but the eyes say something’s there; Doc just never saw use of the University of Washington product.
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And instead of two young guys who the team could build on, Frye would arrive to immediately improve the condition of the frontcourt.
In the instance the Clippers and Magic do agree to this deal, more will later be said on Frye’s fit with this Clippers team but here’s the obvious: he’s a big man who can shift between the power forward and center position while being able to spread the floor on offense.
It makes sense in theory, but there’s reason to be questionable given how Byron Mullens (this is a stretch but let’s just mention it here), Josh Smith, Paul Pierce, and Spencer Hawes have played out in Los Angeles.
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The final commentary via Woj is the Clippers aren’t alone in their pursuit of Frye, with the Yahoo! scribe listing the Cleveland Cavaliers as another team interested in the stretch big.