Bobcats on the clock

Richardson is a young player with lots of life left in him. He can be a long term building block for this team. I do not see this as short sighted at all. If he were available in the draft at #8 I would have drafted him ahead of Wright or anyone else available at that point.

 

He was the 5th overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, and he's in his prime. The one downside is his contract, but as noted, it isn't that unreasonable.


Just found this: http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/story/2006/4/19/164039/466

 

How does a team get one of these exceptions?

 

Every team gets one, I think, although I'm not sure how often.


In any case, I have the slightest urge to get a Richardson Bobcats jersey. Given my previous stance on the team, I think that's a minor miracle. The inevitable unrealistic expectations this time of year might actually have a chance of coming true, as it's somewhat hard to see how the Bobcats could miss the playoffs barring significant injuries.

Felton - Richardson - Wallace - Okafor - Brezec is pretty solid starting five, especially for the East. McInnis - Morrison - Dudley - Herrman - May isn't the worst backup five either.

 

If Morrison is to have a long NBA career I suspect it will be as a sixth man. He could fill the role that Dell Curry used to have with the Hornets. Come off the bench and provide some scoring. Brezec is not a great center but if May can stay healthy they should have enough big men to get a decent rotation going.

 

Um you do realize Richardson is only 26. There was a guy last night that got drafted that was 24. Its time this team started winning some. You win games you attract more "name" free agents. You win you put butts in the seats. At this stage simply winning more games than you lose is the step Bobcats fans (and POTENTIAL Bobcat fans) are wanting to see. The team needs to get some positive buzz about it. There were far too many negatives about it from its inception. Making a trade for a young scorer that could provide IMMEDIATE help is a logical move here.

 

From an outsider's prospective, I like Charlotte's move. They'd seem to have the right kind of pieces to go small and be successful, particuarly if you can resign Wallace. Put Okafor at Center, play Richardson, Wallace, Felton, and Morrison/Herrman. JR gives them some veteran leadership and scoring, which they seem to need more than anything. They could turn into the Washington Wizards plus defense.

By comparison, I hated what Boston did. Ray Allen has maybe one good year left, if that. Once Jump Shooters start having leg problems, usually they are done.

I'm not sure if Zeke is trying to put together a circus show or a basketball team. How many malcontents can you stuff into one team?

 

Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter and pretty much every other available scoring wing is going to cost 12-15M right off the bat, and that'll escalate 1-2M each year. The rumor for Carter is 4 years @ 60M. Lewis is a perimeter oriented SF - we drafted one of those last year. Carter is 30 already. Richardson fits what the Bobcats need better than either of those guys, and he'll be decent at least until his contract runs out in 2011.

Bobcats pulled off a coup, especially when you compare the trade with what it cost Boston to get Ray Allen.

Assuming we re-sign Wallace and find a servicable center (Oberto would be ok) and Bobcats make the playoffs easily.

 

Noticed this line from the article.

"Mullin and Higgins constructed a flawed roster and created a salary mess that will be tough to get out of."

Lets hope Higgins didn`t bring any bad mojo.

 

The Bobcats are a LONG way from the playoffs.

Here are some rosters in the east that have benches better than our starting 5.

30 Earl Barron C 7-0 245 08/14/1981 Memphis 2
Daequan Cook ** G 6-5 210 04/28/1987 Ohio State R
51 Michael Doleac C 6-11 262 06/15/1977 Utah 9
40 Udonis Haslem F 6-8 235 06/09/1980 Florida 4
6 Eddie Jones G-F 6-6 200 10/20/1971 Temple 13
24 Jason Kapono F 6-8 215 02/02/1981 UCLA 4
33 Alonzo Mourning C 6-10 261 02/08/1970 Georgetown 14
32 Shaquille O'Neal C 7-1 325 03/06/1972 Louisiana State 15
20 Gary Payton G 6-4 190 07/23/1968 Oregon State 17
42 James Posey F-G 6-8 217 01/13/1977 Xavier (Ohio) 8
11 Chris Quinn G 6-2 185 09/27/1983 Notre Dame 1
25 Wayne Simien F 6-9 250 03/09/1983 Kansas 2
3 Dwyane Wade G 6-4 212 01/17/1982 Marquette 4
8 Antoine Walker F 6-9 245 08/12/1976 Kentucky 11
55 Jason Williams G 6-1 180 11/18/1975 Florida 9
1 Dorell Wright F 6-8 205 12/02/1985 South Kent Prep HS (Lawndale, CA) 3

Arron Afflalo ** G 6-5 215 10/15/1985 UCLA R
1 Chauncey Billups G 6-3 202 09/25/1976 Colorado 10
8 Will Blalock G 6-0 205 09/08/1983 Iowa State 1
34 Dale Davis C-F 6-11 252 03/25/1969 Clemson 16
12 Ronald Dupree F 6-7 209 01/26/1981 Louisiana State 4
32 Richard Hamilton G-F 6-7 193 02/14/1978 Connecticut 8
10 Lindsey Hunter G 6-2 195 12/03/1970 Jackson State 14
25 Amir Johnson F 6-9 210 05/01/1987 Westchester HS (Los Angeles, CA) 2
54 Jason Maxiell F 6-7 260 02/18/1983 Cincinnati 2
24 Antonio McDyess F 6-9 245 09/07/1974 Alabama 11
Sammy Mejia ** G 6-6 195 02/07/1983 DePaul R
13 Nazr Mohammed C 6-10 250 09/05/1977 Kentucky 9
6 Ronald Murray G 6-3 197 07/29/1979 Shaw 5
22 Tayshaun Prince F 6-9 215 02/28/1980 Kentucky 5
Rodney Stuckey ** G 6-5 205 04/21/1986 Eastern Washington R
36 Rasheed Wallace F-C 6-11 230 09/17/1974 North Carolina 12
84 Chris Webber F 6-10 245 03/01/1973 Michigan 14