Draft Chat

In the team's defense, they said before the draft they intended to take a small player and a big player. They weren't sure if it'd be a small player first and than a bog or vice versa, but I'd still thought they'd go for a Wing.

 

HOLY SHIT!

Someone drafted Von Wafer?>!?!?

 

quality

 

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Posted on Tue, Jun. 28, 2005



R E L A T E D C O N T E N T

KATHY WILLENS, AP Photo
NBA Commissioner David Stern (left) congratulates North Carolina point guard Raymond Felton after the Bobcats took Felton at No. 5 in the NBA draft Tuesday night.


R E L A T E D L I N K S
• Heels tie mark for 1st-round picks
• Bogut goes No. 1
• M. Williams joins other 6-9 Hawks
• Bobcats pull plug on C-SET network
• POLL | Grade the 2005 Bobcats' draft
• Notes | Point guards point the way at NBA draft




Bobcats go for Tar Heels

Felton taken at No. 5, May at No. 13

JENNA FRYER

Associated Press


• YOUR VIEW: How does the drafting of two North Carolina products, Raymond Felton and Sean May, affect your interest in seeing the Bobcats in the new arena? Letters can be sent to [email protected]. Letters must have full name, city of residence and a phone number to contact them.

• POLL: Grade the Bobcats' 2005 draft
• DRAFT TRACKER: Updated live.
• SCOTT FOWLER: Got a question? Ask Scott
• NBA PAGE: More draft coverage.
• FORUM: Discuss the Bobcats draft.
• BOBCATS PAGE: Full coverage.




CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte Bobcats found a surefire way to sell tickets, adding a pair of local stars to their roster by selecting North Carolina standouts Raymond Felton and Sean May in Tuesday night's NBA draft.

"People are probably calling in to get tickets right now," May said after he was picked. "Ray told me yesterday he thought there may be a chance it would happen. Me being the person that I am, I thought my luck would never be that good."

But the Bobcats pulled it off by selecting Felton with the fifth overall pick then taking May at No. 13.

The duo helped lead the Tar Heels to the NCAA national championship and will likely be the main draw for the Bobcats when they open their second season in a new $260 million arena.

Team owner Bob Johnson has already offered a money-back guarantee to some ticket holders if they are not satisfied after the first five games. But with Felton and May on the court, the local Tar Heels fans are sure to be back again and again.

Bobcats coach/general manager Bernie Bickerstaff said the team did not choose the Tar Heels to help build a fan base.

"We took two basketball players. If it should happen to help, I am sure that will make us all happy," Bickerstaff said. "We took two basketball players that we think can help us all move forward."

After the local connection question was asked several other times, Bickerstaff pleaded for a moratorium.

"This can cease now. I think we're just going around in circles," he said.

Charlotte president Ed Tapscott also insisted it was terrific coincidence that the two players that best fit the Bobcats' needs were local guys. But, in adding that season ticket sales begin this week, he admitted Felton and May will help.

"I think there will probably be a few ads in the paper in the next few days," Tapscott said. "We're hopeful this will help us sell the franchise and get people energized about the new building. So clearly we are delighted about the outcome and now its certainly a good kickoff for a ticket marketing plan."

Felton should spend his first season as Brevin Knight's understudy at point guard. Knight, who started 61 games for the Bobcats last season, is an unrestricted free agent who Charlotte wants to re-sign and use as a mentor to Felton.

Felton, from Latta, S.C., said he knew from the beginning he wanted to be a Bobcat.

"This is what I wanted. Out of all the workouts I had, this is the one I wanted," Felton said. "I knew when Charlotte got a team that I wanted to play for them."

May, the most outstanding player of the Final Four, is viewed by the Bobcats as a power forward. But that's where NBA rookie of the year Emeka Okafor now plays.

Bickerstaff said he believes the two would work well together.

"I think what he can do, regardless of the position, is he can rebound," Bickerstaff said.

The Bobcats were already convinced about both Tar Heels, but their decision to draft them was solidified after a draft-day phone conversation between Bickerstaff and North Carolina coach Roy Williams.

Williams talked of the improvement he had seen in Felton the past two seasons.

"He would get up to call a play in the second year and Raymond would have already called that play," Bickerstaff said Williams told him. "That's kind of what Brevin is about."

With May, who had surprised the Bobcats by shooting the ball better than expected, Williams blamed Carolina's system for failing to showcase his long-range skills. He also said May would be durable.

"He said that he would play 10 to 12 years in the league," Bickerstaff said.

 

DickV just give the Bobcats a A+

 

yup, Duke Vitale "Charlotte A+ winner of the draft"

 

i got inside info on a situation that will put me right near the new arena mix..... <fingers crossed>

 

That would not suck.

 

you ain't lyin'

 

That would whip some serious ass.