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May 20, 2008
Augustin might be Brown's guy
Totally a hunch here, but if I were the Charlotte Bobcats picking ninth, knowing Larry Brown will be coaching this team, I’d take a long look at Texas point guard D.J. Augustin.
He strikes me as a Brown point guard – a cerebral, pass-first playmaker who will do as he’s told. And the No.. 1 priority for any Brown point guard is doing precisely what the coach instructs.
Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins was more forthcoming than in the past, in acknowledging this team’s needs – another point guard to complement Raymond Felton and another big man (particularly if you accept that Emeka Okafor is miscast, guarding jump-shooters as a power forward.)
Augustin isn’t a great athlete, and at 5-foot-11 he’s smaller than you might like, but the guy is about as pure a playmaker as you can find in this draft.
One other thing about Higgins’ comments Tuesday; if you see them drafting a shooting guard or small forward next month, figure there’s a trade in the works, because this team is loaded with wings.
Posted by Observer Sports on May 20, 2008 at 10:13 PM | Permalink
Comments
Maybe they will trade the entire team including the owner, rent-a-jordan FOM'S (friends of mike) to New Orleans for our Hornets.
Posted by: BOBJOHNSONISANIGNORANTBLACKMAN | May 20, 2008 10:22:42 PM
fo cheezy my nee-zee. i might be up in jail now but when i get out bob gonna hire me fa show. eye needz a job
Posted by: ronald mexico | May 20, 2008 10:36:25 PM
I'd love a DJ Augustin pick, if he was the 2nd pick following a PF.
Posted by: jperry | May 20, 2008 11:36:42 PM
I'd take a long look at Augustin being abused by Rose in the Tourney. Just sayin'.
Posted by: BroD | May 21, 2008 12:42:49 AM
I'd take a long look at Anthony Randolph taking his team...to a first-round flameout in the SEC tournament and NO postseason appearances whatsoever.
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 21, 2008 1:20:17 AM
Oh..."Just sayin'."
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 21, 2008 1:21:19 AM
I don't understand the idea of abandoning Ray at the point. That would have to be the scenario if this organization decides to use the lottery pick on a point guard, because there would be nothing more stupid than using a lottery pick on a backup. Finding a definitive center is the number one priority, in my opinion, so we can switch Emeka to PF where he could be quite deadly. I am not sure, in fact I'm pretty certain, that Kevin Love wouldn't be any more effective at C than Emeka, and would most likely be a downgrade, but I digress. Felton was third in the East in assists last season and seventh in the league. And to those who say he turns the ball over too much, the beloved Deron Williams was second to Steve Nash in most turnovers committed, while J-Kidd and Baron Davis come in at three and four while Felton rounds out the top five and Chris Paul is seventh with just twelve fewer. Felton isn't the shooter that Williams and Paul are, but if Larry Brown works him like previous PG's, then I think Felton could become the best PG in the East. I say grab a few wingmen in the draft and trade away what we've been stockpiling, if anybody would even want what we have.
Posted by: go'cats | May 21, 2008 1:44:18 AM
i hope we get deandre jordan. he might be something close to dwight howard
Posted by: d | May 21, 2008 6:26:22 AM
I agree about Ray. I think with Larry Brown, Felton can take his game to the next level. I'd like to see the pick traded, I don't see us getting a lot of help at 9. But if anything, DO NOT take Robin Lopez, like Rick suggested, at 9.
Posted by: Bobcat Matt | May 21, 2008 8:19:43 AM
It would such a waste to take a PG with the 9th pick. Just because Felton hasn't done as well as Paul and Williams doesn't mean its time to find a replacement. Like go'cats said, Felton was third in the east in assists. Lets see D.J. Augustin do that next year.
The Bobcats need a big man, a guy who can give legitmate help for Emeka on the boards and can provide some extra scoring. We can take a PG with our second round pick, and he can fill the role of a solid backup PG.
Posted by: ND | May 21, 2008 8:24:00 AM
Go'cats, you want Okafor playing PF in a conference where 75% of the PFs are long quick players who prefer to play on the perimeter. You would then pull Okafor away from the basket, where he is comfortable rebounding and blocking shots, to try and guard players much quicker than him.
Unlike Procton, I don't try and belittle other people's opinions, but do you really think Okafor's strengths are guarding the PFs in the Eastern conference? I think the Bobcats are best served by leaving Okafor at center and adding a PF, by either the draft, free agency or trade, that is capable of playing on the perimeter and guarding someone on the perimeter.
Going further, on offense, Paul and Williams have developed so well partially b/c they have a PF who excels in the pick and roll and pick and pop game. Okafor is not great at either one as he doesn't have great length for the roll and his jump shot is streaky at best for the pop. Look at David West and Carlos Boozer and their versatility on offense. We need a PF with that kind of versatility since Okafor is more of a defensive guy with a limited offensive game.
Posted by: Mason | May 21, 2008 9:13:45 AM
A trade is coming. All signs point to it. Whether it involves the #9 pick is yet to be seen.
Posted by: apauldds | May 21, 2008 9:25:21 AM
Here are my 3 scenarios: 1. We trade Wallace and the 9, to the Nuggets for Melo and Denvers second round pick. 2. Trade Portland the 9 so they can grab Love, and we take the 13 and Jarret Jack off their hands and draft one of the PF's (Arthur). If we cant get that done...than I would be more than happy with Augustin @ nine. He will make less mistakes than Raymond. And I think hes more of a playmaker.
Posted by: eleaf14 | May 21, 2008 9:28:20 AM
Oh, and about the lottery: Didn't you love seeing all the stars representing their teams? JZ, D-Wade, Rudy Gay, Larry Bird, and the Bobcats send...Rod Higgins?
Posted by: apauldds | May 21, 2008 9:29:26 AM
I would love the Wallace along with the 9th pick for Melo trade, but wouldn't there be a conflict of interest since Melo is signed to team Jordan?
Posted by: oneaec | May 21, 2008 9:46:09 AM
Mason is all over this one. Until we fix the PF spot, we will have similar problems. Furthermore, a guy with legit pick and pop capabilities would illuminate Felton's abilities as a playmaker. The game where he had 8 assists in the first quarter involved a lot of pick and pop with Dudley at the 4. Getting a legit 4 who could do this consistently would work wonders for this team. I would use the first pick on a PF and the 2nd on a combo or pg for depth, not as a replacement.
Posted by: jperry | May 21, 2008 9:49:02 AM
eleaf....one question.....why would Portland draft Kevin Love? They want a point guard and already have a couple guys like Joel Pryzbilla, Channing Frye.....and oh yeah a couple of young studs in LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden at PF/C.
Posted by: wang | May 21, 2008 10:42:12 AM
I say we could switch Emeka to PF, and I'm not the first, because we have stockpiled these versatile, athletic forwards and Okafor could be a powerful, dominant PF. Rashard Lewis can score, but would anybody think it's best for the Magic when he plays the 4? He gets overpowered time and time again and it creates big mismatches. I just feel as if we need a true PF, with prototypical size and skillset. We can get by with these versatile forwards, but at some point you need size and power. Anthony in Charlotte would be a dream, and it would be just that because I don't see how that would be even close to enough to being him here, G-Force and our first pick? If somehow we could trade away Morrisson, G-Force, and May and get a true PF in return, and somehow land someone like Carmelo, which is all unlikely, this team would instantly become a top 5 team in the East.
Posted by: go'cats | May 21, 2008 11:19:58 AM
The "next level" for Raymond Felton? What does that mean? He finally stops playign like a rookie after three years?
ap, we don't have any stars to send to the lottery, given that Michael Jordan doesn't want to make any appearances without getting paid. He's got things to do, you know?
wang, you're right. The first name to come up in any draft discussion for the Trailblazers is Joel Przybilla. They must ABSOLUTELY view HIM as a cornerstone.
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 21, 2008 11:29:03 AM
Darrell Arthur is the best option for the bobbies at the 9 slot.
He's a PF in the David West\ Antonio Mcdyess mold, exactly what we need with our current group. He's athletic enough to guard the quicker PFs such Rashard Lewis too.
I like Augustin, but picking him would really indicate a total lack of direction on the part of management. You have to assume one of the reasons Brown was brought in was to provide focus for Felton; PG's have always been one of his fortes.
Posted by: Declan | May 21, 2008 11:41:56 AM
My name is even more appropriate after this article. Draft another Lottery PG? Seriously?
Did anyone watch Felton at UNC when a real coach limited his shots and had him direct the team? Anyone watching him all 4 years would never think the team needed to draft a "true" pg. The team has played him at 2 guard every year, forcing him to shoot more. I guarantee LB will come in and devote time to creating an O that works for the personnel the bcats have and put players like Felton in position to succeed.
I don't know who they will draft, but it won't be a PG.
I'm very intrigued by the options of either drafting Arthur or a trade. No way we get melo, so what other options are out there?
Definitly think we need an athletic PF that can do the Pick n Pop and guard the bosh's and Lewis's of the world that Okafur is way too slow for. What options do we have out there and was Arthur proficient with the p n p at Kansas?
Posted by: Bonnell = Procton | May 21, 2008 12:29:11 PM
LMAO@ Procton and the Przybilla comment!! You are nuts MP!
But we got HOSED AGAIN in this stupid lottery! Chicago gets #1?? The same Bulls team that was the #2 seed in the East last year..?? Hmmm...ANyway on to our team
I like Augustin but not sure he can match up with some of the other PGs like B Diddy, T.Parker, CP3, B.Roy, etc but he is a HELLUVA a playmaker and unlike Felton, will nail the open jumper..in response to Bro D - D.Rose embarrased a lot of people this season in college hoops, thats nothing be ashamed of...Augustin led Texas to a top ranking and seed a year AFTER losing the national player of the year and NBA ROY (Durant) so that should tell you something...
I would have loved to get D.Rose but I dont want to "settle" for Eric Gordon or Bayless from Arizona...dont know what we can do now..been beating the EXILE MORRISON & MAY train to death so I wont in this post..LOL
We DO HAVE to get a PG & PF though...Lopez is not the answer and neither is Arthur..I say go with Augustin, he can be very similar to Deron Williams..
Posted by: Bobcat Terry | May 21, 2008 12:34:40 PM
Augustin would be an ok pick, better than Robin Lopez, but I'd rather them trade the pick or draft a foreigner with great potential like Batum or Serge Ibaka.
Procton, were you trying to be cute with that "Just sayin'" comment? You know you're my bff.
Posted by: BroD | May 21, 2008 12:41:38 PM
wang...Blake is their starter and there have been rumblings of Jack being on the block the past two seasons. True they have Alrdige and Frye...but they would love to snag the "hometown hero" in Kevin Love.
Posted by: eleaf14 | May 21, 2008 12:45:51 PM
Terry, picking a PG would be the most idiotic move in the team's short history! We take a former lottery pick and send him to the bench in favor of a unproven rookie PG? You would have to start Augustin because there is no way on earth you waste a lottery pick on developing a player, especially when we could trade the pick for a proven veteran. See above for how Felton stacks up against fellow players in his draft class. As B=P said above, Larry Brown will limit his shots, since he shoots career about 39%, although he did shoot an improved 41% this season, his turnovers will go down, which aren't any worse than D-Will and a few worse than CP3. We need a true PF, and if one isn't available at #9, I think we need to see what we can do on the trade avenue. This team isn't far off in a weak Eastern Conference and with Larry Brown's discipline it won't take adding much talent to sneak in as a 7 or 8. But they will need to wheel and deal like last season if they wish to really jump into the thick of things in the East and compete with Clev, Det, Orl and Bos...although I see a Miami Heat type future ahead for them.
Posted by: go'cats | May 21, 2008 12:57:51 PM
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