A look at the Bobcats now, future

Posted on Sun, Feb. 27, 2005


















ANALYSIS


A look at the Bobcats now, future

RICK BONNELL


With the NBA trade deadline expiring Thursday, it seems a logical time to judge where the Charlotte Bobcats are -- position-by-position -- both for the rest of the season and in the future:

POINT GUARD

The present: Brevin Knight would be second only to Emeka Okafor on my team most valuable player ballot. He keeps this team organized, passes precisely and runs a deliberate offense without wasting possessions.

Jason Hart wasn't ready to start when he got the chance in the preseason. He lacks Knight's feel for time-and-situation decisions, but he improved while filling in during Knight's recent injury. At worst, he's a solid backup point who can also play some shooting guard.

The future: Considering Knight's age (29) and his height (5-foot-11), it's likely that the Bobcats would use one of its two first-round picks in June on a point guard. Coach-general manager Bernie Bickerstaff wants to have three point guards.

Potential draft or free agent help: Wake Forest's Chris Paul, North Carolina's Raymond Felton or Duke's Daniel Ewing.

THE WINGS (because shooting guard and small forward are almost interchangeable on this team)

The present: Some decent maybes in Kareem Rush and Gerald Wallace, plus NBA reserves in Keith Bogans and Jason Kapono. Who knows about Matt Carroll?

Wallace is a spectacular dunker and a good help defender, but he's not consistent enough. Rush is a creative scorer but he, too, has demonstrated little consistency. Bogans is a strong one-on-one defender, but his jump shot is undependable.

The future: All of these guys are restricted free agents. Bickerstaff wants to explore Rush's potential. Wallace figures to be back if his salary expectations are reasonable. Rookie Bernard Robinson is worth keeping around, based just on his strength, ball-handling and defensive potential.

Potential draft or free agent help: Phoenix Suns restricted free agent Joe Johnson would make sense.

POWER FORWARD

The present: This is the team's relative strength. Rookie Okafor is one of the league's best rebounders and Melvin Ely played well when Okafor sprained his ankle. Ely is this team's best post-up scorer, but didn't rebound early in the season. Now he does.

The future: Based on ability and drive, Okafor will play in at least two All-Star Games. He's tough, he's smart and he's a winner. He's under contract at least three more seasons (assuming the Bobcats exercise their option for 2007-08). The Bobcats previously picked up Ely's contract option for next season, after which he's a restricted free agent.

Potential draft or free agent help: Bickerstaff says he values talent over need in draft decisions, so having Okafor doesn't preclude the Bobcats from using a high pick on a power forward. North Carolina freshman Marvin Williams is intriguing, if he turns pro.

CENTER

The present: Primoz Brezec was a coup in the expansion draft. A 7-footer who can score isn't usually available, but the Indiana Pacers were so loaded they had to give up a prospect. When he rebounds -- and he has of late -- Brezec is much better than when he simply looks for his jump shot.

The future: Making about $2.7 million each of the next two seasons, Brezec will be cost-effective whether he's a starter or key reserve. But the Bobcats need a better alternative than playing Ely out of position.

Potential draft or free agent help: Utah sophomore Andrew Bogut is a 7-footer with fine ball-handling and passing skills.

 

Rather find a good backup C in free agency - preferably an older, wiser guy to give our guys some added pointers - and get a decent playmaking PG in the draft. Hopefully, by next year, the team will be a little more ready to shop in free agency with the thought of making decisive moves, rather than cost effective ones.

 

The dickheads over at the HornetsReport are hoping for Chris Paul. I am suspecting the Utah big man is on the Bobcats menu due to Brevin Knights age and the doughnut we have in the middle

 

With 2 picks we should have a good shot at getting a big with the early pick and maybe grabbing Felton with the 2nd 1st round pick.

 

Fuck that Felton is coming back to UNC next year

 

Where the hell did we get a 2nd first?

Depends on where the 2nd 1st rounder is - if it's middle of the pack, you get your center there. A top 5 player at PG's probably going to be the shooter we lack, as well as a creator off the dribble and in passing. Hopefully, you get some D too, but that generally comes as a compromise to the player being as good at some of the other talents.

But you can get a random, average center in the middle of the first - and that's where you can get a Channing Frye or one of those foreign bastards.

 

This are the player i would keep .Jason Hart SG Kareem Rush and Gerald Wallace Keith Bogans and Jason Kapono.All 4 of them can shot.move Jason Kapono to and Gerald Wallace SF.Draft Andrew Bogut with the first pick. Draft everyone love Raymond .Sign anther SG as well as PG.looking at the Cats win. I couid see this team win 25 to 30game next season.The future look very good for the cats

 

Cle

 

It's Clevelands first round pick for taking one of their players last year. It was either this years pick or next and they already said take this years as they are a playoff and no chance to make it a lottery

 

That not so true.the reason we got the 1st Rd pick for this year.is becuase they trade next year pick to Bos