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June 25, 2008
Bobcats looking to move up in draft
Charlotte Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins said today that he is looking into trade possibilities that would move them up from their current No. 9 slot in Thursday's NBA draft.
Higgins didn't provide detail into which other teams might be involved, nor would he speculate on the likelihood of this happening. However, he said if the team moves off its current No. 9 slot it would more likely be up than either down or exchanging the pick for a veteran.
It is not surprising that the Bobcats should be looking to move up, considering there is a lack of clarity about picks 3 through 8 and who would be available to the Bobcats.
Higgins said that while they'd like to move up, they wouldn't be reluctant to add whoever is left after the first eight selections are made.
The Miami Heat is known to be evaluating the trade value of its second overall pick, and several other scenarios are conceivable.
The Bobcats have less salary cap flexibility than last year, so doing something similar to acquiring Jason Richardson last year seems unlikely.
Posted by rbonnell on June 25, 2008 at 08:31 AM | Permalink
Comments
No. 9 plus Okafor for no. 2 (Beasley)? Good offensive and salary cap ramifications, terrible defensive ramifications although trading Okafor's salary would open up some free agent possibilities.
Posted by: BustaCat | Jun 25, 2008 9:11:05 AM
AMMO, Sean May, and the 9th pick for the #2 pick and a high $$$ guy like Udonis Haslem.
Posted by: whitemiket | Jun 25, 2008 9:25:07 AM
The Heat can do a lot better than the No. 9 and Okafor. Check out these scenarios:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/news/story?id=3459696
But I'm glad we're trying to move up, if that's indeed true ... as long as we're moving up to grab a point guard, NOT to get Kevin Love.
Posted by: say what? | Jun 25, 2008 9:27:16 AM
miami is more likley to keep the 2 pick, take mayo to play point, and trade shawn marion straight up for elton brand in a sign in trade. that way they get post players and guards(which they want). this leaves beasley wide open at 3 to the best offer minny gets because they want jefferson playing PF and beasley players there. SO if charlotte offers pick 9(brook lopez), adam morrison, sean may, and jamario davidson, the bobcats could end up with beasley.
Posted by: brendan | Jun 25, 2008 9:28:48 AM
Brendan, while that trade is possible and would help both teams, Riley desperately wants a PG and also has a mancrush on Boozer. Booz can opt out after next season and become a free agent, also has a house in Miami and loves the city. As such, I think Miami makes the trade w/ the Griz, gets Conley and Miller, takes either Bayless or Lopez at 5, and then will have a stacked young lineup to pursue Boozer in the offseason.
Posted by: Mason | Jun 25, 2008 9:38:18 AM
That would be a great scenario brendan. We get a PF and we keep Wallace.
Posted by: apauldds | Jun 25, 2008 9:39:00 AM
The problem with that is, I have a feeling Minny would KEEP the #3 pick if its Beasley.
If 3 is Mayo, I see the asking price lower for that pick, hence the earlier rumor of Ammo and 9 for 3. The thinking there is Minny would want Love or Lopez, but not want to pay #3 money for them. Have Charlotte pick up one of those guys at 9 and take a risk on Adam Morrison panning out.
If you recall, Morrison TORCHED Minnesota for 26 in a second half in a game last year, McHale's opinion of Morrison is probably at least a little skewed by that.
Posted by: Kevin | Jun 25, 2008 9:45:54 AM
I've heard rumors that Portland is looking to deal their 13th...if we could send Morrison for the 13th, then somehow get a higher pick, we could easily get guys like Hibbert, Westbrook, Mayo, Brook Lopez, and Love. That would seemingly fix alot of this team's bigger problems.
Posted by: John | Jun 25, 2008 10:38:01 AM
In order for brendan's scenario to happen, (1) Miami would have to decide that it doesn't want Corey Brewer and next year's first rounder back basically for free, (2) both Marion and Brand would have to opt out, which neither has done, and (3) the Clippers would have decide Shawn Marion is the best they could do for Elton Brand, which wouldn't be the worst deal in NBA history but isn't equal value either.
If Beasley slid to No. 3, the Timberwolves would simply put Jefferson in the middle. Even if Minnesota wanted to trade down from No. 3 -- which they'd possibly do if Mayo was there, but not if Beasley was there -- they're not doing it for a handful of magic beans. You're wildly overestimating the trade value of Adam Morrison (injured/bust), Sean May (perpetually injured/fat), and Jermareo (not Jamario) Davidson (scrub).
Posted by: say what? | Jun 25, 2008 10:44:55 AM
The problem is if Mayo goes #2. It is going to take more than #9 adam morrison, sean may, and jamario davidson to get the #3. You would have to give up Wallace. I think we could handle losing G-Force to get a scoring 4.
Posted by: William | Jun 25, 2008 10:47:22 AM
Seems like a smokescreen and they are once again using Bonnell. We saw this happen last year when Bonnell said they were not trading for J Rich. Draft night comes and guess what happens. I will take anything being said right now with a grain of salt because this draft seems unpredictable this year.
Posted by: DS | Jun 25, 2008 10:48:41 AM
This is a dificult draft, but what about a trade with Washington. They have #18, they claim to want Arenas and Jamison is a Free Agent.
Lets trade Okafor, Hollins/Mohamed and Davidson for #18 & Haywood, and then lets sign Jamison.
Bobcats will get:
B. Haywood
# 9 - draft B.Lopez/K.Koufos/D.Jordan (C)
#18 - draft M. Chalmers (PG)
#38 - draft R. Hendrix (PF)
Sign A. Jamison
The team will look like this:
PG - Felton/Chalmers(#18)
SG - Richardson/Carroll
SF - Wallace/Dudley
PF - Jamison/May
C - Haywood/B.Lopez/K.Koufos/D.Jordan(#9)
(SG/SF)Morrison
(C) Hollins/Mohamed (Depends who is traded)
(PF)Richard Hendrix
(PG)Sign C.Arroyo/K.Dooling
And YES, the biggest concern here besides the Wizards agreeing to that, is salary cap. I have to admit I haven't consider it.
But if it is possible, this would be an AWESOME team next season. A 4-6 playoff seed, for sure.
Posted by: RobC | Jun 25, 2008 11:29:03 AM
That would add two more tar heels to the Bobcats. I personally think Jamison would be an upgrade at either 3 or 4 and Haywood is coming off his best season and is a legit 7 footer in the post, but that might be too many tar heels on one team for most fans considering tar heels dominate the front office and now the coaching staff as well.
Posted by: Mason | Jun 25, 2008 11:39:03 AM
number one reason why charlotte has a better shot at 3 then 2, miami is in our division. so rather then see some trade backfire and then see their mistake often.....
then minny offer for 3 could include a future starter at center for them(lopez) a starter/bench scorer (morrison), and potential post players that minny is lacking (may and davidson). though may's health is in question, he would be a upgrade over michael dolac(!) and mark madsen(!). davidson showed promise in the d-league last year and broke into the rotation somewhat.
*maybe we could also get bench PF craig smith from minny
minny could have a lineup of
1) foye/telfair
2) morrison/mccants/green
3) brewer/gomes/davidson
4) jefferson/may/madsen
5) lopez/dolac
thats not bad(better then it was)
charlotte could have(if miami take mayo, which they appear to be)
1)felton/UFA chris duhon
2)richardson/carrol
3)wallace/dudley
4)beasley/smith/2nd rd pick joey dorsey
5)okafor/mohammad/UFA kwame brown
Posted by: brendan | Jun 25, 2008 11:43:42 AM
Shawn Marion cannot opt out any more; his deadline was yesterday.
And yeah, Rob...how could any team with the MIGHTY Brendan Haywood manning the middle even lose a game. What a GREAT player.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jun 25, 2008 11:47:08 AM
Rob C.
I have to say thats the worst idea ive ever heard. Ever. Ever. Ever. Ill sell every season ticket, tshirt, jersey, hat anything that I own that might be orange. That actually made me sick to my stomach. please dont ever ever say that again. WOW.
Posted by: Nic | Jun 25, 2008 12:33:01 PM
Even as a UNC alumn and a lifelong Tar Heel fan, I would never, ever, EVER trade for Haywood. Then mentioning Koufos and Jordan as targets for the No. 9 pick ... holy crap! That's just an atrocious idea.
Posted by: say what? | Jun 25, 2008 12:41:52 PM
Procton, FYI:
A couple of little facts about Haywood:
1.) He is 100 times better than your beloved Primo Brezec.
2.) He is a true 7 footer that can actually play 30+ mins in 75-80 games a season.
3.) He has enough experiece, both as a player and in the playoffs.
4.) He's coming off his best season and he's only 29 yrs.
5.)He is an upgrade to Mohammed in every single stat.
6.)He averaged 3ppg & 4 rpg less than Okafor in 6 less min/pg; but in every other stat, he is either tied or better than Okafor (i.e. FT%,FG%,blocks & assist).
And YES I do like Okafor a lot and I know he is far better than Haywood, but Haywood is way cheaper and Jamison is an Upgrade to Okafor. Plus this scenario only make sense if Jamison is signed.
Again, the only issues besides WAS agreeing to deal, is Salary Cap and (for the Tar Heel haters) that there would be 4 Tar Heels in the team plus the coaching staff.
Posted by: RobC | Jun 25, 2008 12:47:08 PM
I'm praying to God that we package a deal that would send (out) Gerald Wallace & our 9th pick to the T-Wolves at 3 or Heat at 2 and snatch up Micheal Beasley or Mayo. Than I'd use Morrison or May to move back up into the first round to take Bill Walker or Big Roy Hibbert we'd be Portland East.
Branden Eaton
Posted by: eatonbranden1 aka DeadReal | Jun 25, 2008 12:52:43 PM
"Portland East?" So we could be one of those teams "loaded with talent" who couldn't finish .500 either? Hell of a model to aspire to.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jun 25, 2008 1:32:31 PM
I think DS is right, the cats are once again feeding Bonnell false info. Look for the team to trade down.
Posted by: apauldds | Jun 25, 2008 1:34:10 PM
Portland would have been better with Oden healthy. And I think, he is making the point that Portland is a young team with a lot of talent and assests that can lead to it being a very good team. That isn't a bad thing to be.
Posted by: Yeah? | Jun 25, 2008 4:11:29 PM
Hey "DS" up there you are full of it buddy... and so is everybody else on this blog...bobcats are not gonna trade anybody man, and thats because nobody wants anything to do with the sorry players you guys have, they all stink, a bunch of chump role players all on one team, Emeka is a guy that would fit in with a team that is already at chammpionship caliber and the teams that hold the top picks are not even close to championship caliber LOL, therefore you guys wouldnt get any high picks for him, all the other guys on that team are chumps... im a laker fan, but im realistic about things, i didnt think they would win and they didnt and they wont until they toss the chumps on the team, like JR. walton that guy is useless, sasha and radmonovic unconsistent shooting and Odom, that guy is so soft, he got run over by BOSTON, see i am realistic and i think you guys need to be realistic about whats gonna happen you know what im saying? lets be real guys.
Posted by: andy | Jun 25, 2008 4:28:08 PM
Rob, please remember Procton has a real beef with anything with UNC main reason he could not hack it there.
Posted by: jeff | Jun 25, 2008 5:53:36 PM
You got it, jeff...that's why two other posters (including a sweater vest squad member) immediately struck down that tremendous idea.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jun 25, 2008 7:10:53 PM
andy your pure trash. Probably became a Laker fan this year...in the middle of May. The only way you were realistic is by repeating what has been said 100 times since the lakers "lost". Why in the hell are you in a Bobcat blog site.
Anyways, Cats have a few different directions, but getting Beasly is wishful thinking at best. I dont know a lot about some of the players in the draft, especially the late first rounders, but i'm not really sold on Hibbert. Marese Spieghts and Jason Thompson sound like they can be the steal of the draft, while grabbing Douglas-Roberts would be solid as well. As for there #9 pick, i really hope they dont go with Brooke Lopez. That guy is overrated and will not be a good fit with this team either. The Cat's biggest need is an athletic big man that can play on the outside and defend other athletic 4's in this league (read: Marion, Odom, Garnett, Rasheed, Brand, Dirk, West, Bosh). These are the guys that can play inside and out, rebound, run, post...we need that type of player. An athletic 4 who can defend the premiter, still get in and grab some boards, play the post on both sides of the ball and has a solid mid range jump shot can really improve our team. It would allow Okafor to guard the rim where on D and sread out the floor for Okafor in the post. Yes, Beasly would be perfect here but it wont happen. if we did keep the #9 then i wouldnt mind seeing Randolph here, based on potential alone. I actually wouldnt mind seeing Love here either, given his ability to rebound, pass, and shoot with some range, but i worry about his lack of athleticism. A.Jamison would be a nice pick up as well, but i doubt that happens either. One player I think we should inquire about is Charlie Villanueva. The guy fits the mold of what i just mentioned and may be on a fire sale given the whole Yi thing and the bucks eagerness to improve quickly. If we do trade the #9, I hope we find a way to move Mohammed as well...overrated and a salary clogger
Posted by: Bobcats in the bay area | Jun 25, 2008 7:13:54 PM
LOL ok bobcat, hey man I love b ball so I'm on all over the place, I'm not just narrow minded about the lakers let me tell you what kind of lakers fan I am! I say trade Kobe f that guy! I hate his character and all that he talks, paxson just said that unless he gets the best player in the league he won't answer The phone! I'm all about the team, no player is worth more than a team, been a lakers fan for years bro, but I appreciate your realness and tough attitude and thats what the bobcat fans need.. The east is weak and it could be easy to build quick, like you said they gotta get rid of the salary cap monsters, and make some solid signings as opposed to drafting. In the west they dont draft and stick with the guy mostly all the west teams made big free agent signings or trades, if the cats make some good signings they can get in the playoffs and make a run cuz that east is soft...
Posted by: andy | Jun 25, 2008 8:13:23 PM
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