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2016 NBA Trade Deadline: 10 Players Teams Should Absolutely Avoid

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 1, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 109-89. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 109-89. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Deadline
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 /

6. Lance Stephenson

In the course of two short years, Lance Stephenson has gone from the league leader in triple-doubles, a quality wing defender and 23-year-old jack of all trades to a perceived cancer, a waste of a three-year, $27 million deal and future waiver wire bait.

It takes quite a spectacular fall to decline from 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game to 4.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in that short time frame. Though his efficient .494/.404/.700 shooting splits would indicate he’s regrouped from the worst three-point shooting season in NBA history, he’s only playing 15.8 minutes per game for the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers need bench depth if they want to reach the conference finals, let alone achieve their ultimate goal of winning a title. With the last year of Stephenson’s contract being a $9.4 million team option, trading for Born Ready would basically be dealing for future cap space for most teams, which makes him less of a cancer than you’d think.

But in terms of what he brings to the court, Stephenson would not be worth keeping around at this point, and most likely, prospective trade partners would have to give up a player of some worth to match up with his $9 million salary. Maybe a team will take a flier on him on the waiver wire, but only teams looking to completely dump a player and free up cap space should consider him.

Next: No. 5