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May 22, 2008
Why would team commit so early to draft promise?
I got a call Thursday from a scout for a team drafting in the teens, wondering if it was conceivable the Bobcats would have made a promise to select Texas A&M center DeAndre Jordan.
By "promise," the scout meant the Bobcats assuring Jordan that they would draft him ninth overall.
That sounds like a reach, before they or anyone else has had a chance to work him out. Jordan is a 7-footer who can run, but after a single college season the word scouts always use about him is "raw."
Sure, they are all raw to some degree at age 19, but Jordan particularly so. He might have more potential than, say, Louisiana State’s Anthony Randolph, but Randolph has more defined skills. And Jordan didn’t always compete so consistently at the college level.
Obviously Jordan should be among the Bobcats’ considerations, when their needs are a big man or a point guard. But locking in on him, or anyone else more than a month before the draft, makes little sense.
Speaking of the draft, one of the more interesting things at next week’s pre-draft camp should be how Ty Lawson plays.
Lawson should stay at North Carolina, based on the way he played late last season. UNC’s coaches are indicating to NBA scouts that Lawson is leaning to returning to Chapel Hill.
However, he wouldn’t have entered the draft, even with the option to pull out, unless he thought he was ready. He’s not ready, based on the way he played, so he either needs to change that impression or get back to summer school.
Posted by Observer Sports on May 22, 2008 at 03:48 PM | Permalink
Comments
Daaang, Bonnell is a blog posting machine lately, keep it up homey.
TRADE JARED DUDLEY
Posted by: BroD | May 22, 2008 4:18:08 PM
DO NOT TRADE JARED DUDLEY.
He was the steal of last year's draft
Posted by: apauldds | May 22, 2008 4:41:32 PM
I don't think we could get much for Dudley and he is an okay player off the bench at a low salary. No point in trading him.
Drafting Jordan isn't a terrible idea, but I don't think you could really play him and Okafor together. Depends on what the Bobcats want and maybe where they see Okafor. If they don't want to pay him the huge contract he wants, Jordan could always replace him at center the following season.
Posted by: Mason | May 22, 2008 4:49:04 PM
DRAFT JOE ALEXANDER!!!!- 6'8" with excellent one on one post moves, good shooter, nasty vertical leap and great discipline...has extreme potential...he will be a star in the NBA
Posted by: g | May 22, 2008 5:06:27 PM
NO NO...NO NO NO! We don't need no extra Mr Jordan on our team! This here's Seans momma speaking. It be all we can do managin' one Mr Jordan. Lordy, give me the shivers thinkin' we could have 2 Mr Jordan's on the team. Damn! It aint possible he be one of them "love children" I been readin' about could it? Now I know Mr Michael he like them little chocolate covered mints you get in the fancy restaurants. What they called?
Anyway, do want ya want there Mr Johnson. But at least promise you aint gunna draft another Johnson. We over our quota already on that name.
Posted by: seansmomma | May 22, 2008 6:04:36 PM
This team doesnt need anymore of an offensive upgrade. they need defensive minded and strong players. the bobcats get beat up on the boards by guard and forwards not center. I say that because okafor is a defensive specialist that the team is trying to force to be more of a scorer. then g force is the only d player on the wing but gets put in against power forwards. WHY, because you dont have any strong minded defensive players to take the pressure off. Feltons on his way to being there, dudley is there but gets no minutes. And then thats really it. Out of 13 players two are defensively equiped for the NBA, 2 can contribute more this season, but after that they fall off. Teams like the Champion Spurs are champs for a reason, 4 of their starters have been all team defensive players. How can you beat a team like that. With more offense, is what only a idiot would think.
Holla!
Posted by: T-Dub | May 22, 2008 7:13:30 PM
I am going to draft all of the big black fast boys as I can.
I will also continue to hire ignorant black men to manage my boobcats.
I hired the token white guy to coach, now everyone get of of my back.
I will also continue to hire hot tight white girls for me and mj to chat with. MJ will start being paid to come into the office and hit of the white girls. This will force me to raise ticket prices. Mike must be paid.
Posted by: bob johnson | May 22, 2008 8:32:41 PM
T-Dub, are you sure Alan Anderson isn't the answer? He played really well for the Vini Vici Vidi, I heard. Your basketball insights, as well, are unparalleled. Why would you want a guy who shoots 54% from the field to be a scorer when we can get Ray Ray to jack it up at 40%?
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 22, 2008 10:08:57 PM
My goodness...racism still abounds. The same bigots who are race baiting now will later talk about the stupid choice we made with our pick. NOW is the time for all of the experts to say who should or should not be drafted rather that doing it after the season is half over. Hindsight is alway 20/20. Show some foresight.
Posted by: dave | May 22, 2008 11:16:17 PM
T Dub, though the Spurs are a great defensive team, they also have a C/PF in Duncan who can dominate offensively 1 on 1 and requires double teams. Tony Parker can take anyone off the dribble and get into the paint and Manu has both range and a dynamic slashing ability. So while they are a great defensive team, they also have 3 guys who can score on their own including an inside force, point guard and wing. Bobcats have no one who requires double teams in the post. So while we need to improve on defense, LB will surely help, we need a legitimate post scorer.
When you look at the 4 teams left in the playoffs, and this really extends to NO, Utah, and the Magic as well, all of those teams have their second best/leading scorer as their big man who all average around 20ppg or more.
Posted by: Mason | May 23, 2008 8:51:43 AM
I think we should select Westbrook, unless Arthur blows people away in workouts.
Reasoning:
We need a very good pick and pop PF and I'm not yet sold there will be any left at 9.
Therefore, let's get a dynamic player that is an outstanding athlete and defensive demon who can play sg and back up pg minutes.
Rip me up fellow posters...
Posted by: Bonnell = Procton | May 23, 2008 9:01:02 AM
spoke with a friend about "what if" situations regarding the bobcats and here is one to think about. chicago is loaded with young players, the last think paxson wants is another reboot with more young bigs. they need a defensive presence, not a rookie pg or pf. charlotte needs to grab a low post scorer and make a splash to get the floundering fanbase on their side. they offered okefor big money, not max, which he turned down. chicago is looking to move contracts of gooden and unrestricted free agent duhan. jordan has shown guts to make a high pick, even when people say he dosent know what he is doing in the front office.
make the "what if" trade......
bobcats get: 1st pick(beasley), drew gooden, chris duhan
bulls get: emeka okefor, sean may, matt carrol, 9th pick(whoever they want),next yers 1st
*in order to "sweet up" the deal charlotte must give up next years 1st which chicago knows will be good because charlotte makes playoffs but not high seed so its mid 1st at worst (15-17 range)
brown loves defense and "lunch pale" types, which okefor is. but the bobcats need points to go with that low post position. gooden is basically the same as okefor, with less scoring ability(gooden give 14 and 7 and okefor gives 11 and 10). in the east(as well as future nba systems) the center position will fit for gooden. the team also gets a lefty pf beast in beasley.
bobcats start C gooden 6'10, PF beasely 6'9, SF wallace 6'7, SG richardson 6'5, PG felton 6'0.
bench includes: mohammad, davidson, dudley, morrison, duhan, hollins, and 2nd pick this year.
this trade also allows morrison to score as spot starter/first option off bench without reliance on defense. bench is strong with shotblockers(mohammad, hollins) and role players who accept that role(duhan, dudley).
chicago start C noah 6'10, PF okefor 6'9, SF dang 6'8, SG gordan 6'3, PG hinrich 6'2.
bench includes thomas, hughes, may,nocioni carrol, and the #9 pick from bobcat(eric gordan?)
bulls get impact players who can play right away with having to develope first, such as okefor. He also will be a claming presence for the wild young post players they have (noah and thomas)
as much as chicago appears to love this 1st pick option, its really a burden. they want hometown guy rose, but have hinrich locked for 5 more years. if they move him(which is real hard with that contract) they look forward to rebuild mode...again. they have been in rebuild more then once since the jordan days, and dont want to go through it again with rose. beasley would be great for them as a scorer and rebounder, but the last thing they need is more youngs in the post.
charlotte has a good young team. the front office wants to grow the fan base(me included) to fill the seats. they know there will be a core base of fans but now winning makes the world go around in the pro sports world, thats why brown is here. buy making a public splash with beasley, they can show the casual observer fans turn and look this way. okefor is solid as a buck williams type, who can play solid but would not be an all star, but beasley has that chance to be an all star 20 and 10 type. he is also aware of the charlotte area, almost going to UNCC before opting for k-state(google that one if you dont know)
What if it could happen?
Posted by: brendan | May 23, 2008 9:06:57 AM
Not that it would happen in a million years, but sure. Although, I'd like nocioni better than gooden and I'd like to get a shooter from them to replace carrol.
On a more realistic idea, whichever of the two they do take, I'd hope we'd be trying to pick up a player they'd displace. If bulls get rose, love to pick up gordon or hinrich, if beasley love to get nocioni, thomas, noah or gooden
Posted by: Bonnell = procton | May 23, 2008 9:40:11 AM
Honestly, don't think that would ever happen. Chicago needs a low post scorer which they haven't had since Brand left town years ago. They tried to trade for Gasol several times but could never put together a deal. They also absolutely love Rose, who is from Chicago. I don't see anyway they trade their pick.
Also, Okafor is in the last year of his contract so you would have to reach some kind of big extension with him and then do a sign-n-trade. No one around the league thinks Okafor is worth even what he turned down last summer.
Beasley has a few minor character issues, but outside of that, he is what they Bulls need most. Look for them to trade one of their other young bigs or Gooden. I doubt they trade out of the 1 spot.
Posted by: Mason | May 23, 2008 10:07:52 AM
JOE ALEXANDER is the best choice.
This kid is a decent defender, very athletic, his work ethic and discipline are amazing and he can shoot from anywhere. He has great moves in the low post, he has a great 15-18 feet jump shot and he shoots over 80% from the line. He can even hit the ocasional 3P. He is 6'8" - 230pds. He is just what we need to match up with guys like: D. West, L. Odom, S. Marion, D. Lee, R. Lewis & Hedo, etc. He also has an amazing vertical leap and he is tough.
If he is not avaliable then we should get Anthony Randolph, but he should be our 1st choice with the 9th pick.
JOE ALEXANDER is our guy!!!
17ppg, 7rpg, 3apg, 2bpg, 46%FG 81% FT
He is the next best thing at the SF/PF after Beasly. He is our best option with the 9th pick overall.
Then get a PG in the 2nd round.
Posted by: Rob C | May 23, 2008 10:20:13 AM
Also Jermario davidson, Sean May and Adam Morrison are trading material, not excellent but good. We could get a good back up PG for any of those guys.
Also, Carlos Arroyo is a free agent and a good back up PG. He is a great playmaker, he likes the up-tempo style, he has playoff experience with Utah, Detroit & Orlando, and he played for Brown when he was in Detroit.
Posted by: Rob C | May 23, 2008 10:23:06 AM
Please get rid of Boykins, Othella and D. Anderson for good. Thanks but goodbye. We can hire D. Anderson as an Assistant Coach, he has a lot of knowledge in the game.
Posted by: Rob C | May 23, 2008 10:24:52 AM
The biggest issue with the Bulls trade scenario above is that Larry Brown would despise Drew Gooden (no defense and by all accounts has low basketball IQ) - no way he can play center.
Chances are the Cats trade this pick for one of Brown's beloved "proven veterans".
Posted by: mcap | May 23, 2008 10:34:13 AM
DeAndre Jordan with the ninth pick ?! About as good an idea as using the Wizards' first pick on Kwame Brown in 2001... I hope it's just a false rumor. Kevin Love, Darrell Arthur, Joe Alexander, even Anthony Randolph, are better options, and anyway, Rick is right - there is no reason to commit to any player now, before the workouts.
Posted by: Sandy | May 23, 2008 10:42:55 AM
I say we venture down the trade route once again this year. For every player that is supposed to go around our pick there is something they lack for every one thing they do right. I hate drafting on potential in the NBA, unless it's a second rounder of course. The NFL is a league where that works due to large rosters and unless you have a high pick or pressing needs, you can afford to develop a player. In the NBA, especially with a lottery pick, you need a player who is going to make an impact immediately, not be a liability. If a polished player isn't there, and I hardly call Kevin Love polished and it's sad that he gets that label in comparison to some of these other players, I say trade away the pick and try and package some players to boot... May, Morrison, Davidson. Please God, just don't draft another PG. RayRay needs some work with his turnovers, although D-Will is worse and CP3 is close, and limiting the shots he takes. But he can and will be a top 3 PG in the East, at least, under Larry's direction. There is no way we can afford to develop a PG off the bench, and if somehow we did, I don't see how he could be any better than Ray. He would make more turnovers, shoot worse...which is saying something, and assists would be down. I don't even understand how it could be an option. Felton has had bright moments, and equally dull ones, but is there anyone out there that says abandon the guy for a youngster?
Posted by: go'cats | May 23, 2008 11:16:47 AM
Rob C...are you REALLY JOE ALEXANDER?? LOL...Gosh man we get it-- you want they guy ok..chill!
go cats..you know I want another PG in here and the turnover thing to me is not the issue with Ray Fel..ANY GUARD who handles the ball alot will turn it over often, thats just how it works..even when J-Kidd was leading the league in assists he was also a high turnover guy..but there is a DIFFERENCE in turning it over bc u are trying to make plays and just turning it over bc you are careless and cant handle pressure...Felton is the latter..he makes bad passes and poor decisions..gimme CP3 with 11asst and 3+ TOs ANYDAY!!
back to the draft though...I like Arthur more and more as I replay that Final Four..he was a big man who can face up (KEY) and play with his back to the basket..the other posters are right, in todays league you have to have a PF that can face up and either shoot a mid range 'j' or make a move and drive to the basket..
but we all should wait until we at least bring in some guys to work out..although that means nothing bc B. Roy had a terrific workout 2 seasons ago yet we passed on him for Morrison..YIKES! Then Danny Granger 3 years had 2 workouts only to have the Cats choose Sean May instead of one of the most improved players in the league this past season...lets brace ourselves gents!!
Posted by: Bobcat Terry | May 23, 2008 1:16:05 PM
here is another trade idea (less lofty as the bulls trade i suggested before)little more complicated.
Bobcats get: C/PF chris wilcox, PG luke rideour, pick 21(from NJ) C roy hibbert
Nets get: PF sean may, SG matt carrol, PF donyell marshall, pick 9( SG eric gordan)
Sonics get: C nazr mohammad, PF stromile swift, PG maurcie williams, pick 10(PF kevin love)
*keep in mind seattle/okc already has pick 4(sg oj mayo)
bobcats start C wilcox, PF okefor, SF wallace, SG richardson, PG felton
bench includes hibbert, davidson, morrison, ridenour, dudley, hollins and 2nd round pick(florida PF marrees speight?)
*wilcox can play center in the east at 6'10 245, and mix and match lineups can be done according to tempo fast (see above) or slow with hibbert, okefor, wilcox, morrison, and wallace)
nets start C boone, PF may, SF jefferson, SG carter, PG harris
bench includes kristac, carrol, diop, hassell, ager, and eric gordan
*vince carter gives way to eric gordan later down the road
sonics(or whatever they will be called) start C mohammad, PF collison,SF durrant, SG mayo, PG williams
bench includes love, green, swift,wilkins, watson
*nick collison gives way to kevin love later down the road
all parties involved benefit from this complex transaction
Posted by: brendan | May 23, 2008 2:43:50 PM
That's a weak looking bench we'd be left with.
Posted by: Eric | May 23, 2008 2:56:42 PM
Im really trynna figure out why people are so in love with kevin love, dont you people see that he would be the second coming of sean may(nothing aganist may)but we need some who can get up and down the court, and deandre jordan can do that,people grow up an get over the kwami brown thing, cause yall were the same people cheering mj up when he made that trade for jrich, ok we have scoring in gforce,jrich,ray ray, and caroll, if you paid any attention to our games we got bet on the boards alot, and teams dont like to come down the lane when they know you have a solid big man down low deandre jordan is 7'0 255 aka(da next dwight howard)as scouts are calling him, he can be taught to be a better low post scorer, like many big men need to be taught and he would have one of the best coaches in larry brown, so mj do ya thing we tru bobcats fans will support what you do.
Posted by: Truthbtold | May 23, 2008 2:59:53 PM
brendan, that trade really has us giving up way too much. why would we trade 3 players and a # 9 pick for 2 and # 21. Honestly, Chris Wilcox and Luke Ridnour are not worth that. Caroll is good, Nazr plays decent for us. Who knows what to expect from May if he even plays this year. Regardless, we'd give up wat to much for not much of an improvement. Not to mention weak bench. I'm feeling you must be a Nets fan.
Posted by: Eric | May 23, 2008 3:08:25 PM
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