As the weekend draws to close, the talk of trade’s start to come in as Monday is the first day that players signed to new contracts in July are eligible to be dealt, which typically triggers what teams leaguewide regard as “trade season” over the next two months leading into the annual February trade deadline.

STEPHENSON COULD BE TRADED OUT OF CHARLOTTE?

The Charlotte Hornets are going to exploring the options that they have and if things work out, Lance Stephenson could be on the way out of Charlotte.

Via ESPN:

Sources told ESPN.com that the Hornets, just 23 games into the Stephenson era, have already begun the process of searching for potential trade partners that would be willing to take the talented but enigmatic former Indiana Pacer off their‎ hands.

Although sources say no deal involving Stephenson is imminent, Monday is the first day that players signed to new contracts in July are eligible to be dealt, which typically triggers what teams leaguewide regard as “trade season” over the next two months leading into the annual February trade deadline.

One factor that could ultimately lead to a deal, despite Stephenson’s ragged and discouraging start, is the fact that the three-year, $27 million deal he received over the summer from Charlotte owner Michael Jordan is only guaranteed through next season. The third year of the deal is not guaranteed, which theoretically enhances Charlotte’s chances of finding another team willing to gamble ‎on the mercurial swingman.

Sources say that the Hornets are not in a move-him-at-all-costs mode with Stephenson but made it clear that Charlotte is ready now to abandon the experiment if a palatable deal presents itself.

 LAKERS OWNER JEANIE BUSS: I DON’T WANT KOBE TO LEAVE

In a recent Q&A with ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne, Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss discussed a number of issues. One happened to be about Kobe Bryant.

Via ESPN.com:

Jeanie Buss: I don’t want to see Kobe Bryant leave. But we understand the realities of the sports world. Take Shaq, for example. He was traded and played for several other teams. But once he retired, he asked us to retire his jersey. He wanted to be remembered as a Laker. So while I get attached, I know what the realities are in this business. It’s never going to change what we’ve accomplished together. But I don’t look forward to the day that Kobe Bryant’s not in purple and gold.

GAY CALLS PERKINS A CLOWN

Via SLAM Online:

Thunder veteran Kendrick Perkins has been talking a lot of smack this season, aiming barbs at Marreese Speights of the Warriors, and the entire Kings team, among others. What does Sacramento forward Rudy Gay think of all Perkins’ talking? “He might as well play with his face painted, he’s a clown to me,” Gay said, in anticipation of the Thunder-Kings game this week. From Kings blogger Blake Ellington on Twitter, via CBS Sports:

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