« Bobcats' Felton appears safe - for now | Main | Bobcats veterans to practice in Las Vegas »
June 29, 2008
Why Augustin instead of Lopez?
I've received a couple of emails this weekend, wondering how the Charlotte Bobcats could possibly justify drafting Texas point guard D.J. Augustin over Stanford center Brook Lopez.
I appreciate the concern. Typically, you take a big guy over a small guy. And highly as Lopez was initially ranked he thought he'd be gone by the fourth pick a month ago; he seemed like a steal when available with the ninth pick.
The Bobcats might have made a mistake, but drill into the details, and I can see their reasoning: You can argue whether Augustin or Arizona's Jerryd Bayless was the next-best point guard available. But generically, adding a point guard was this team's most urgent need.
That would be true if Raymond Felton were the best point guard in the league.
Felton is the only point guard under contract here, and point guard is as hard a position to fill as any. They had to do something, whether it was through the draft or free-agency (where signing Chris Duhon would have made a lot of sense, and perhaps still does.)
My concern is more specific to Augustin: A scout I greatly respect wonders if, because of Augustin's size (6-foot, at best), he'll end up a career backup.
Posted by Observer Sports on June 29, 2008 at 07:27 PM | Permalink
Comments
1st pick is okay but 2nd round was a stiff they could have got in 2nd round
Posted by: sam | Jun 29, 2008 8:31:24 PM
Stiff? That's funny; I guarantee sam's never seen Ajinca play. Yet Larry Brown, who DID work out Ajinca, said he was "blown away" by the kid's athleticism. Hmmm ... I wonder who knows what they're talking about, sam or Larry Brown?
Posted by: say what? | Jun 29, 2008 9:33:49 PM
Call me crazy here, but I think I have to go with Larry Brown on this one...just a hunch ya know?
And I'm sure, following this post, will be 8,034 complaining rants from people who are sure they could have picked a better draft. But if you add up all their experience and knowledge and weigh it against LB's, something tells me LB's would slam the scale down so hard it'd catapult the critic's complaints.
I could be pleasantly surprised however...
Posted by: Daniel | Jun 29, 2008 9:56:25 PM
While LB was blown away, tons of scouts and GMs have been questioning a guy who scored 5ppg going in the first round of the NBA draft. The kid is a workout warrior, hopefully that will translate into a solid career at some point. Right now he gets pushed around by French league centers. Imagine how he will fare against NBA centers.
I think we should have gone w/ Lopez or Bayless instead of Augustin. Bayless, even if we weren't a huge fan, had much more value at #9 and could have been dealt in a similar fashion. I understand picking a PG though as our second teams really struggled last season w/o a decent backup PG.
Posted by: Mason | Jun 29, 2008 9:57:29 PM
What the draft could of looked like...
9-Brook Lopez
ESPN
The Nets are doing backflips. They had three guys they really liked in this draft: Kevin Love, Danilo Gallinari and Brook Lopez. They need size and a guy who can score in the low post. I thought Lopez would have been a reach at No. 3, but he's a very solid pick at No. 10. I think this is a very good day for the Nets.
20-Mario Chalmers
ESPN
The Timberwolves are selecting Chalmers on behalf of the Miami Heat, according to a league source. Pat Riley wanted a point guard, and he got one. In fact, Chalmers is one of the most NBA-ready guards in the draft. He can shoot, he can defend and he's a clutch player. He's kind of a poor man's O.J. Mayo. Great draft night for Miami.
38-Chris Douglas-Roberts
ESPN
The Nets make what could be their best pick of the night. I don't love Chris Douglas-Roberts, but he can score and is one of the best slashers in the draft. For a team that could use more juice in the backcourt, this is a fantastic value.
But no, we get this
9-DJ Augustin
ESPN
A little bit of a surprise. We've been hearing all day that the Bobcats are shopping Raymond Felton. I guess this confirms it. They passed on a need (Brook Lopez) to get Augustin. He's an upgrade over Felton, so it's hard to criticize the Bobcats. Augustin has a chance to be special. The Blazers and Kings wanted him and have to be crushed right now.
20-Alexis Ajinca
ESPN
Ajinca is 20 years old and averaged 5 ppg in France. In the history of the NBA draft, has there ever been a player who averaged 5 ppg or less who turned into a decent player? Ajinca was a workout warrior, dominating some of the other big men in the past few weeks. And he has great size and skills. But can he turn them into production on the court? He'll likely stay in France to develop.
38-Kyle Weaver
ESPN
Larry Brown always wants a guy who will "play the right way," and that's Weaver. He's very talented, but totally unselfish. He is a great defender who also gets to the basket. If he ever develops a jump shot, he could be a very good pick here.
Guess the Badcats love empty seats.
Posted by: smashy | Jun 29, 2008 10:05:52 PM
There are several different sites analyzing how each team did in this draft smashy.
Here's another perspective from ESPN:
Analysis: I'm a D.J. Augustin admirer, and I think he'll be an improvement over Raymond Felton eventually. The Bobcats were shopping Felton before the draft and I think they'll keep doing it now.
Ajinca is intriguing on paper and in workouts, but I'm highly skeptical he can turn 5 points per game in the French league into a solid NBA career. I think they wasted some cash buying the pick.
Weaver is a Larry Brown-type defensive specialist who can play two positions. He's a nice get at No. 38.
In this piece Chad Ford gave the Bobcats a B-. He acknowledged that there are some obvious questions from Charlotte's draft night but he also looked at the strong points. Another issue to consider is Ford's comments were written well after the draft had taken place so there was some time for reflection. I may be wrong but I think you're quoting from a more knee-jerk draft analysis that was written the night of the draft.
It's really stupid to just look at one opinion and form your opinion accordingly.
I'm not exactly in love with our draft class this year but I can see the contributions that these players can make. I'm also willing to give LB a chance to shape this team the way he seems fit given his track record.
Also can we stop rehashing Anjinca's French stats? Everyone should know them by now. I've mentioned them, others have mentioned them. There's no new insight that can be drawn from them. They look bad, we all know it. Now can we move on?
Posted by: Jared | Jun 30, 2008 12:00:19 AM
(1) If size matters, Chris Paul wouldn't be the best PG in the league.
(2) Smashy, wow, what an incredible draft you proposed. That would have turned us into NBA champions for sure! Oh, wait. It sucks every bit as much. Lopez is too slow to play PF, meaning we'd have the same problems playing Okafor at PF as we did this year (plus I doubt Lopez would even win the starting spot from Mohammed), Chalmers was chosen in the 2nd round, and we don't need any more offensive-minded players in the backcourt. Richardson, Wallace, Carroll, plus Morrison coming back -- yeah, that's just what we need, another offensive-minded player destined to fight for minutes in what's already going to be a crowded rotation at SG/SF.
Posted by: Will | Jun 30, 2008 12:03:03 AM
Well to me it seems like Mike needs to stop calling shots or Charlotte is going to be in a lot of trouble...In 07 he past on Roy for Morrison and look at what you got! This year he past on Bayless or Lopez...what the hell was he thinking...
I think i would have took Bayless with that 9th pick(dont worry he'll make everybody pay)ref. D.wade, Melo, J.Howard, G.arenas-should i go on ?...If he would of took Bayless with that 9th pick, you've got instant offense off the bench, and with that 20th pick what was wrong with taking Kosta Koufas, or Deandre Jordan...and if u would have took Lopez 9th, u still had Chalmers on board....duhhhhh! Then you get to the second round u take this Weaver kid over a Bill walker, James Gist, Ewing jr, & chris Douglas-Roberts? whats really going on?????
Somebody needs to step in quick!!
Posted by: countryboy | Jun 30, 2008 1:22:44 AM
You guys keep harping on the face that he only averaged 5 points a game in the French league, take into the fact that he only was playing 10 minutes a game. If he plays 40 minutes in the French league with his stats, he's a 20-12 guy, plus 4 blocks a game. And check out this dunk.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2k87y_alexis-ajinca-fiba-world-championsh_sport
Posted by: GoCats11 | Jun 30, 2008 1:43:00 AM
Dear Christ! I've never seen a 7 footer that athletic. Throw 20 lbs of good ol'fashioned carolina cookin on them bones and we gotta barn burner.
Posted by: jubal | Jun 30, 2008 2:26:45 AM
I look forward to seeing Alexis play, obviously 1 on 0 is different than a game, but he looks like he has potential:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MlcfmCclMtkfeature=related
Posted by: Yeah? | Jun 30, 2008 4:41:15 AM
Here is part 2 of the workout:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yj1bHmIXtBQfeature=related
Posted by: Yeah? | Jun 30, 2008 4:45:06 AM
Mike went with Kwame Brown over Tyson Chandler.Raymond is a young point guard why bring in another young guy bring in a veteran to spell him. forget Lopez you had big Roy Hibbert on the board,and if you know anything about basketball Georgetown do and excellent job in preparing their big men for the Pros and move Okafor to PF.you don't have to be weatherman to know it raining.Charlotte need size.I'm sorry this pick is stupid,
Posted by: stan | Jun 30, 2008 6:34:21 AM
Will, you are an idiot. Please show me your list of point guards under 6 feet currently excelling in the NBA. Oh what's that? It starts and ends with Paul? Yeah that's what I thought. Idiot.
Posted by: Pop | Jun 30, 2008 6:53:47 AM
"A scout I greatly respect wonders if, because of Augustin's size (6-foot, at best), he'll end up a career backup."
Translation:
"I read Bill Simmons of espn.com NBA Draft Diary and he stated several times Augustin may be a career backup. I'll use that."
Weak Bonnell. Come on man, tell the truth. You have no sources or scouts, and mearly plagarize your material, thoughts and opinions by just reading other sites all day. I'm not sure how you survived the Observer layoffs.
Posted by: Gary | Jun 30, 2008 7:05:37 AM
Frenchy could have been taken in 2nd round with no risk.
Posted by: jeff | Jun 30, 2008 7:22:39 AM
I swear some of you are dumber than a bag of hammers. The draft sucked, the Bobcats suck, GM sucks, ownership sucks. This team makes to many seat of the pants decisions. Thank God the possible Gearld Wallace deal fell through.
Posted by: unreal | Jun 30, 2008 8:17:15 AM
"and point guard is as hard a position to fill as any"
and you say that as if 7 foot true centers are easy to come by
Posted by: matt | Jun 30, 2008 8:41:45 AM
I would have gone w/ Arthur or Koufas at #20. Both would have provided the PF with a jump shot and some perimter skills. Arthur has more of the mid-range game while Koufas has a pretty decent outside shot. Both could guard Eastern PFs better than Okafor or Mohammed and both would improve our team for next season, espicially Arthur.
Posted by: Mason | Jun 30, 2008 8:43:40 AM
Larry Brown, Larry Brown, Larry Brown.....Ugh!!!! Everyone keeps referencing what he thinks, who he likes, etc. WHO CARES - he will be LONG gone before any of the players drafted have played their 2nd year. The only reason he was hired wass because of his UNC heritage. No other team in the NBA would have touched him.
What a joke of a team - an out of town owner who cares NOTHING about this city, a GM who knows nothing about how to run a team and who also cares NOTHING about this city. And now a head coach who will only be here a few months yet drafted players who "play his way" regardless of their talent level. Long after the wonderful and all knowing LB is gone we will be watching players like Jerryd Bayless, Darrell Arthur, Bill Walker, and CDR tearing it up for some other team - while DJ Augustin sits on the bench, AA is in France, and Kyle Weaver is selling insurance in Washington.
Please Mr. Johnson, sell this team to someone who cares - because you certainly do not!!!!
Posted by: LB_Sux | Jun 30, 2008 8:47:16 AM
Duhon? Freakin Chris Duhon? Roflmfao. He would be a career backup in my YMCA league. If he even got on the court. His only claim to fame is a hurt rib that ratman milked more than a wisconsin cow.
Posted by: Jamie | Jun 30, 2008 8:51:08 AM
jamie, duhon has been more than serviceable in the nba, in fact he has been a better pro than anyone, including duke fans, would have predicted. he's no star or anything but he's been pretty good in chicago.
aug, was the right pick at 9, him or bayless. brook and robin lopez? i don't trust any family that names their two sons brook and robin.
Posted by: jamie | Jun 30, 2008 9:11:09 AM
I have to say that I like the #9 Pick on Augustin. On the other hand, at #20 I was extremely surprise with Ajinca. I taught they would go with Arthur, Jordan or Koufos. I was then expecting a trade with with that pick, something similar like year (of course, not as good as last year). When that trade didn't happened, I sayd to my self, theres got to be a reason why Brown said: "I was blown away by this kids" talent and that he "fell in love" with the kids in the work outs.
Yes, I know a lot of scouts and GM's have said thousands of thing about this pick. Honestly I'll have to trust Brown on this one. For several reasons: 1.) Brown is a Winner all the way. 2.) He has more experience than half of all those scouts and GM's that are analyzing this draft. 3.) He doesn't take "s.h.i.t" from nobody. In other words he is a true Head Coach.
That being said: I'm really looking forward to see something good out of that kid. If not, we can all agree that it was a HORRIBLE mistake, but again Brown knows a "little" bit more than us about it.
On Augustine and his almost 6-feet size. If size was a real issue in the NBA, then explain to me the following examples: C. Paul, A. Iverson, D. Stoudamire, T. Hardaway. These guays are or were All Star multiple times and are or will be among the Top PG in NBA History. Just for those who forget, D. Stoudamire was one of the most dominant PG during the first 10 years of his career. What I mean is that if Augustine can become at least near any of these guys and stay like that at least 6-8 years, then the Pick was more than worthy. Honestly, I think he can and he will.
Posted by: RobC | Jun 30, 2008 9:27:59 AM
Ohhh...and I forgot to say that little 6-1 Rajon Rondo is an NBA Champion. And probably was one of the most underrated PG in NBA up until last season. The guy stats in the playoffs(when it matters most) are AMAZING.
Posted by: RobC | Jun 30, 2008 9:31:12 AM
What bothers me about Augustin being chosen is that he's "Larry Brown's" type of PG, but is it smart to revamp your entire roster to satisfy a coach who can only run the team for 4-5 years because he's old as hell? I think LB can do a better job than Vincent, but don't make over the entire roster to satisfy him. Good players are already in place, everyone just needs to be healthy. Lopez should have been the pick at #9 because Augustin may have been around at 20. Now we just have to hope for the best. Summer League begins July 11, and we'll now by the end if Augustin was the right guy.
Posted by: cchhotdog | Jun 30, 2008 9:39:41 AM
Post a comment
Advertisements
