Report: Doc Rivers backed out of deal to trade for Lance Stephenson last season

By foxsports
Published

Apparently, when the Clippers acquired Lance Stephenson on Monday evening, it wasn't the first time they had the option of doing so.

Now that the Clips have brought Lance into town, reports have surfaced that they could've actually made a trade for him midseason, but turned it down. From ESPN's Arash Markazi:

There are plenty of teams out there who wouldn't even take Stephenson for free given his history of locker room malignancy. Clearly, the Clippers changed their philosophy on him at some point. Heck, maybe this is all just a reaction to that blown 3-1 lead to the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals.

(H/t to ESPN's Arash Markazi.)

Photo Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports