Los Angeles Clippers: Trade Value Rankings

Nov 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers with guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers with guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 7, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Lance Stephenson (1) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Clippers defeated the Timberwolves 110-106. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Lance Stephenson

What a fall it’s been for Lance Stephenson, who just two years ago was being mentioned as an All-Star snub at age 23 for a team who had the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Stephenson’s trade value is based around being a speculative steal for another team in a different role and being an expiring contract.

Stephenson averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game on 49.1 percent shooting with 35.2 percent shooting from deep just two seasons ago for a Pacers team that finished the season with a record of 56-26. You don’t compile those numbers by being lucky. Stephenson is a talented player and at 25 he’s far from being a lost cause.

The Clippers took a chance on Stephenson and they have gotten mixed results. It’s not hard to imagine that another team might think Stephenson can get back on track if put in the right situation.

There might not be a better low-risk, medium-reward player available than Stephenson. He has a team option for next year for $9 million for next season that will almost definitely be declined. Stephenson can either be looked at as a $9 million expiring contract or as a player in a show-me situation working on his next contract.

Stephenson bet on himself when he had his chance to cash-in on his last season in Indiana and has lost that bet, but we can’t rule out that we’ve seen the best of Stephenson yet.

Next: Rivers