How do the Bobcats reach the next level

The current team is a solid .500 team in the east and a fringe playoff team. How do they step it up to where they can be a clear playoff team and and challenge the powers in the east? It does not seem likely that Jordan will pay what it takes to lure an elite free agent. The draft is the best chance I guess but they are not going to get many lottery picks and it is certainly not likely they will get a high lottery pick any time soon.

Should they blow up the team and start over knowing they will lose games and miss the playoffs but hopefully get a shot at an elite guy who can lead them to contender status? If so how confident can they be that the elite guy won't leave for a bigger market when his rookie deal is up?

 

The only way to compete (for titles) in the NBA is to have one or two Superstars on your team. (Since basketball only has 5 guys on the floor at once, the emphasis is on individual, not team talent). You have to either draft them or buy them in FA.
The NBA markets individual stars, not teams. So all top players want to be in big markets where they can get lots of TV / marketing deals. This eliminates Charlotte as far as the free agent route. No superstars are coming here by choice ( and no Jordan has nowhere near the pull some people think he should have with these new kids).
So the only other option is to get lucky in the draft (like the old Hornets did with the LJ / Alonzo drafts). We need lottery picks, and lots of them.
As the Bobcats are now built, we will be fighting for that last spot or 2, with no hope of advancing. This team will not improve from that. It kills us that we did such a HORRIBLE job with our previous lottery picks.
With all that said, blow up the team as it is, keep a few of the young guys that might be role players on a better team, and trade anyone of value (Jack/Gerald) for draft picks. OR, enjoy fighting for an 8th seed yearly and a quick exit.

 

This.....

It seems like Gerald Wallace’s name has been circulating on the trade circuit all year. For example, over a month ago, an interesting rumor surfaced that had Crash being sent to Cleveland in exchange for their $14.5 million trade exception. But while Cleveland is not out of the picture, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Portland is pushing hard and getting closer to completing a deal with Charlotte.
Depending on what the Blazers are willing to part with – Joel Przybilla’s expiring contract, Andre Miller, etc. – we’ll see if this is a good deal or not. But, to add a player as good as Wallace before the playoffs, he could make a difference like Marcus Camby did a year ago.

 

Rumors swirling about moving Wallace before the deadline. The Cavs and Blazers seem to have some interest. Maybe that lets them move Jackson to the 3 and start Henderson?

Even if you land a stud in the draft you end up losing them like Cleveland and Denver just did. Charlotte and Orlando went through the same thing with Zo and Shaq.

The NBA needs to think about making some changes before all the small market teams fail. Making the game more about team work and less about the individual would help.

 

Good luck with that. I bet within a decade several small market teams go away. Look at Utah. Great history but no free agents want to go there. The players all want to play together (Miami with their three, Chicago with Boozer and Rose, NY with Amare, Melo and either Chris Paul, or Derron Williams by this time next year. I wouldn't be surprised if D.Howard leaves Orlando this summer. I can't blame the players for wanting to have a better shot to win but it's not good for the game IMO. I mean when a Milwaukee plays Minnesota or Charlotte or Indiana who really gives a shit. When the playoffs start the teams that get in and are seeded behind Boston, Orlando, Miami and Chicago who really cares who's seeded 5-8? The first round series will likely all be 3 game sweeps. Why bother? I'd rather see the salary cap be tiered. 1 "A" player, 2 "B" players and the rest whatever. Let someone independent from players, agents and owners decide who is what and decide what percentage of the cap those players can take up.

 

Something needs to be done if they want to keep the NBA as big as it has been for the last several years.....

 

sounds like Wallace to Portland is about done, still working on players. I saw Przybilla, picks, and cash.

 

Well portland is 32-24, Wallace will only help that record, so the picks are going to be very low, bottom third of the round. Appears to be a move to clear cap space which doesn't seem to help a team like Charlotte since they are gonna have a hard time attracting top tier free agents.

 

well you need cap space to attract FA's. It could be a move for Paul down the road. Miami had to unload to get those guys. Charlotte has the 17 highest payroll in the league right now, higher than I would have thought. If they trade GW they clear his 9m salary this year plus 22m for the following 2 yrs. thay gives them some room to go after somebody. with all the trades the past 2 days , 1-6 in the east is pretty set.

 

Oh I agree from a money standpoint to go after a player or two, but the main issue is that Charlotte isn't Miami when it comes to attracting top players to an area/market. I view that the best they will be able to do would be to over pay for players like GW who they are about to trade.

As for Paul, I would love to have him here, but NY seems to be where he is likely to go at this point.