Bobcats on the clock

I can see both sides of this. Is GW a marquis player, among the league elite? His lack of All Star games suggest he isn't. Is he one of the better scoring threats on the roster? Yes. He is reckless, and some fans like seeing him diving all over the place.

I can see him making 10m/per, but I would be a little surprised if they went over that. 10M/season is the estimated going rate for him next season (in any uniform)--that would boost his salary up 4.5 from where he is now.

If the Bobcats get him back without the Bird rule, that would be fine--hell, 3 years ago he was stuck on the Sacramento bench...now he's looking at 10M a season....amazing.

 

A max deal would be above $15 million a year, so that's what I was talking about. $10-$12 mil for Wallace would be bearable, if overpaying to gain respectability.

In any case, I'm a little surprised that the pundits are almost uniformly trashing the Bobcats for their trade (not just criticizing the deal but blasting it). Apparently they shared my initial feeling on Richardson's contract, but maybe they just don't realize how little Charlotte needed Wright at this time. Not only is he a work in progress, but the PR for yet another Tar Heel would have been terrible. SI said Richardson can't do anything but score, yet he ranks among the league's best rebounders at SG and has respectable assists totals as well. Weird.

 

Any higher than 10-11 would be a reach, I agree.

I like Richardson too. Anyone blasting the Bobcats for this doesn't know what the Cats have, and what they will try to do. If Wallace goes elsewhere, the Cats have to try and land another veteran, IMO, or at least a relativley young guy who has some flash. Richardson by himself is the same as Wallace by himself.

 

C+ Draft Grade

Bobcats -- C+
The trade of the No. 8 pick for Jason Richardson and No. 36 made sense until Brandan Wright, who is a top 3 talent in any other draft, fell to the Bobcats. While it would have taken a couple years for Wright to develop, a front line of Emeka Okafor, Wright and Gerald Wallace would have been one of the best in the Eastern Conference. Richardson is going to come in and score 20 points per game, is very athletic and a good three-point shooter, but is limited defensively, which makes the re-signing of Wallace a necessity. The Bobcats, if healthy, will win 37-40 games this year and contend for the Nos. 7 or 8 spot in the playoffs.

The Jared Dudley pick at No. 22 is more troubling than the Richardson trade because the Bobcats already have a small forward (Adam Morrison) who has questions still looming regarding what position he can defend and whether he can get his shot off at the NBA-level. A back-up shooting guard – either Morris Almond (a spot-dead shooter) or Aaron Afflalo (solid defender) -- should have been the pick in case Matt Carroll is not re-signed, a strong possibility now that Richardson is on the payroll.

Jermareo Davidson of Alabama at No. 36 was a good pick in that he has the potential to develop into another, low-post defender to aid Okafor.

The pick-up of Richardson and the drafting of Dudley are built with RIGHT
NOW in mind, so it appears Bernie Bickerstaff’s approach of building a contender with home-grown talent has been thrown to the wolves, or in this case, the Warriors.

 

If they lose Wallace, they have to go after Rashad Lewis of Seattle...the only problem with that is then no one in the starting five plays defense outside of Okafor.

 

I know that not the reason that bobcats made this trade.But Richardson is the kind of player that will make fans want to go watch the bobcats play in charlotte.With the Bobcats getting Richardson and drafting Dudley and with. Adam Morrison already on the roster what are the bobcats plan to do with matt Carroll. I think they must resign him .Not only he can score. But more importantly he is a team leader

 

Chad Ford (ESPN) says B-

Round 1: Jared Dudley (22)

Round 2: Jermareo Davidson (36)

Analysis: The Bobcats traded the draft rights to Brandan Wright for the chance to overpay Jason Richardson. But Richardson actually is a good fit in Charlotte. The Bobcats needed a veteran, not more young players. And he provides exactly what the Bobcats need -- a potent scoring option in their backcourt.

His contract will have an impact, but if the Bobcats don't re-sign Gerald Wallace, they could still make a run at Rashard Lewis this summer.
Dudley and Davidson were good value picks -- especially Dudley, who has a chance to be a Shane Battier-type player in the NBA.

 

Great....so I am only a little off what the expert Ford said (not much difference between a C+ and B-). I disagree with the Dudley pick, though. I would still much rather have Wallace (younger, better defender) than Lewis.

 

yeah...not being confrontational with you at all. I prefer Wallace as well, but if he walks, they gotta fill that gap.

 

Agreed.

Sorry if I missed it, but do you like picking up Richardson or, after sleeping on it like me, are you just going to live with it (note: I am not a Carolina fan, unless you are talking about their ladies -- my wife is one).