Charlotte Hornets Trade Rumors: Teams Inquiring about Lance Stephenson

Lance Stephenson with the Charlotte Hornets will be eligible for trade starting this Monday, December 15, and according to media reports, "four-to-five" teams could be interested.

"Four to five NBA teams have shown an interest to the Hornets on Stephenson, but no deal is imminent, Stephenson has made clear his desire to help propel a turnaround and both sides believe there's still time to salvage a productive relationship and run with the franchise," sources reported according to RealGM.

Stephenson, who signed a three-year deal worth $27.4 million, has been struggling offensively, shooting an average of 10.5 points. His percentages from the field and at three-point line have dipped to 38.7 and 16 percent, respectively. His defense, on the other hand, has remained solid, averaging 7.4 rebounds in 34 minutes.

The Lottery Mafia has outlined the issues between Stephenson and Kemba Walker, writing:

"Stephenson is playing nearly identical minutes to his banner year of 2013-14, and he has seen an increase in his assists per game (now up to 5.3), a career high. But, in spite of this uptick in assists, Stephenson is not converting with Walker at a nearly catastrophic rate. Lance is passing to Kemba 30.4 percent of the time, an average of 14.8 passes per game, but only netting 0.7 assists for his efforts. Likewise, Walker is sending a staggering 41.8 percent of the passes that Lance receives, while generating a terrifyingly low 0.4 assists per NBA.com. Stephenson and Walker are leaving a lot of assists, points and wins on the floor."

Despite his slow start, Stephenson's offense has started to pick up. His numbers for December are significantly better, averaging 16.2 points, six rebounds and 4.3 assists. If Stephenson's surge can pull the Hornets (6-15) back, a trade might not be imminent. However, once Monday comes around, anything can happen.