Matt Barnes

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Press Release | Galleries: Specer Hawes | Matt Barnes

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced on June 15 that the team has acquired center Spencer Hawes and forward Matt Barnes from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guard Lance Stephenson. Below is the transcript from Cho's conference call with the media.

We are really excited to acquire Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes in this deal. Spencer gives us a veteran game – he has proven himself in this league and adds a lot of experience to the locker room. He has the ability to face the floor in offense as an outside shooter and is a great passer as well. He has a high basketball IQ and we’re really excited to have him on the team. As far as Matt, we’re still evaluating our options with Matt. But before I end, I would like to thank Lance for all his hard work during the year and being a professional last season.

On what it will take for Hawes to reclaim his form from two seasons ago:

He didn’t have a very good year last year with the Clippers, but I think he just needs to have a comfort level.  I just talked to him a little bit ago and he’s really excited to be here. I know our coaches are really excited to have him as well. We’re just looking forward to getting him here and getting him accustomed to our offense and defense and then having him work with our coaches.

On why Lance Stephenson did not work out in Charlotte and how he handled it:

I thought Lance handled it really well, actually. I think it was kind of a shock to the system when wasn’t playing as much. He got out of rotation a little bit, but he handled it professionally and I thought he was a great teammate and I don’t have anything bad to say about Lance.

When he realized it was not going to work out with Lance:

I don’t know the exact time but sometimes things don’t work out and you have to move on. I think it’s important to realize when things aren’t going to work or haven’t worked and you have to move on from there.

On how Michael Jordan said the thing he didn’t understand at first when he first took ownership of the team was that it’s really important to recognize when something isn’t working and deal with it decisively – make mistakes, move on, don’t let them fester and if that was the message that came down:

There was no directive that we had to trade Lance, so I’m just talking philosophy. I think what MJ said to you was correct. I think that’s one thing that is important – you realize, hey if something doesn’t work, let’s move on. Let’s give it some time to work, and if it doesn’t look like it’s going to work then let’s move on.

On elaborating on exploring their options with Matt Barnes:

We are elaborating on what we’re going to do with Matt moving forward. Over the next few weeks, we will evaluate and figure that part out.

On if this move gives the team a chance to get back to the chemistry level it had two seasons ago:

I do think we had really good chemistry two years ago and for whatever reason, we probably didn’t have as good of chemistry last year. I wouldn’t put that all on Lance. I do think Spencer is very good locker room guy. I’ve known Spencer for a long, long time, just being from Seattle. I’m also very close with his uncle on his mom’s side. I know Spencer is a solid person and he’s going to be a good locker room veteran presence for us.

On if Hawes is somebody who can address Charlotte’s 3-point issues:

Yes. One thing Spencer has done throughout his career is shot the 3’s – career 35 percent shooter from (3-point line). Last year he shot 31 percent, but the year before during his brief time in Cleveland, he shot close to 45 percent and overall shot 40 percent. A career 35 percent from 3’s is good for a guy his size, and he’s a 70 percent shooter from the line.

On if  this is the first of the series of moves to improve that 3-point shooting or news that just stands on its own:

We’re certainly going to keep looking to improve the team and improve our shooting as well. I can’t think definitively that we’re going to make moves, but we’re going to try and see what we can do to improve the team.

On if there is anything definitive about Gerald Henderson and what he’s going to do (with his player option):

gm-rich-cho-transcript-on-trade-with-los-angeles-clippers

GM Rich Cho Transcript on Trade with Los Angeles Clippers

Rich Cho Conference Call Transcript | Galleries: Specer Hawes | Matt Barnes

June 15, 2015 – Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that 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.”

Matt Barnes

GM Rich Cho Transcript on Trade with Los Angeles Clippers

Hornets Acquire Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes from the Los Angeles Clippers in Exchange for Lance Stephenson

Matt Barnes - 6/15/15