1. Kirk Hinrich
Just kidding.
CALM DOWN. I WOULDN’T DO YOU LIKE THAT.
No, my actual #1 is…
1. Lance Stephenson
I know, I know. Why add another crazy guard to the mix?
Here’s my counter: I mean, screw it, we may as well go all-in on crazy.
Lance Stephenson had a really productive turn for the Grit ‘n’ Grind Memphis Grizzlies after completely tanking with the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Born Ready is only 25 and when he’s on, he’s a great defender, passer and energy player. He can also shoot when properly motivated. The fact that the 6’5” off-guard knocked down 35.5 percent of his treys in a shooting-challenged Memphis offense bodes well for his addition to the Bulls (he shot a great 40.4 percent while in LA, good for a sweet 38.5 percent overall average).
Stephenson averaged 8.3 points and 3.2 rebounds a game cumulatively, but in his 26 games for Memphis at the end of the year, his numbers were quite solid: 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 0.7 steals in 26.6 minutes.
Next: SummerBulls: Bobby Portis leads the way in opening win in Las Vegas
He can play three positions, too. He’s shot 33 percent, 35.6 percent and 38.5 percent from deep during three of his last four seasons, suggesting that his 17.1 percent tally in Charlotte was more the exception than the rule (it helps bring his career average down to just 30.8 percent).
He is of course, a borderline locker room nightmare, having once sabotaged his own team’s title hopes by punching Evan Turner in the face right before the 2014 playoffs started. If this season were to go south with a Lance-Rondo locker room, it would go south in a hurry.
Then again, just two years ago, Stephenson was a borderline All Star, the third or fourth-best player on an Indiana Pacers team that made two consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances.