NBA trade rumors: LA Clippers nearly traded Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith

Lance Stephenson vs. Ray AllenReuters

The Los Angeles Clippers are far from impressive so far this 2015–16 National Basketball Association (NBA) season and apparently, it came to a point where the team would have moved some high-profile players.

Two players whom the Clippers would have moved are Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith, two new faces on the roster this year but have so far not proven to be good acquisitions. Such was first reported via Yahoo Sports.

Stephenson is someone whom the Clippers took a risk on, a change for the temperamental player to start anew. After having perhaps his finest years with the Indiana Pacers, all went downhill for Stephenson when he transferred to the Charlotte Hornets.

Claiming that they had long eyed Stephenson, the Clippers dealt for the swingman and traded up for him in a deal that involved Matt Barnes.

To date, Stephenson has yet to recall that old form that made him a hot prospect in the 2014 offseason. And at the rate that the Clippers are going, he could eventually be bought out or traded at some point in the season.

The same holds true for Josh Smith who has been skidding since his days with the Atlanta Hawks. Although he showed some semblances of his old self with the Houston Rockets last season, it has been a bumpy ride for the forward to this day.

Smith was even reported via CBS Sports as having a shouting match with one of the Clippers' coaching staff, something that head coach Doc Rivers said is nothing out of the ordinary for a team that has growing frustrations.

With most of the signed players in the offseason eligible for trade by Dec. 15, the Clips could possibly deal some by that time. But nothing will materialize until the regular players come off sick bay, as Rivers has to make do with the players on deck for now.