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August 11, 2008
Weaver trade a surprise
I didn’t anticipate the Bobcats trading second-round pick Kyle Weaver, but I’m also not surprised.
I’m on vacation right now, but I wanted to chime in on the Bobcats getting back their second-round pick for Weaver. Larry Brown didn’t use Weaver a whole lot more than a bunch of guys who were rounded up off the street to assemble a summer-league team. So I guess it’s not a revelation that, given the opportunity to replace a second-round pick, they moved him on to Oklahoma City
Weaver made sense on draft night: He potentially played three positions and was a defender first on a team lacking for defenders. On some unmolded-clay level, he was what coach Larry Brown made of George Lynch.
However, he looked lost in summer-league games (although no more lost than first-round pick Alexis Ajinca).
There isn’t a whole lot that Weaver can do that Jared Dudley doesn’t already do. And finding playing time for a wing player is the last of many problems the Bobcats have.
Still, I’m mildly surprised the Bobcats would not bring Weaver to training camp to see more of what he might do. They obviously decided to cut their losses and get back a second-round pick.
And it will be a long time before we truly know whether this was a good or bad call.
Posted by Observer Sports on August 11, 2008 at 09:17 PM | Permalink
Comments
Brown must be getting ready to sign an impact player.
Posted by: Getting Ready | Aug 11, 2008 10:00:11 PM
What wonderful talent evaluators we have working for our Bobcats. Who in the world do they think they're going to find that's any better next year in a weaker draft in the second round than Weaver? Weaver seemed like a great team guy and was always flashing a smile, and seemed full of potential. What are we left with? Um...Shannon Brown. Oh, boy. I'm {yawn} excited about this turn of events.
Posted by: Michael | Aug 12, 2008 12:36:14 AM
It is clear that Larry Brown is the new GM.
Posted by: afan | Aug 12, 2008 1:02:25 AM
I expect crash to be traded by the end of the summer. He is not larry bown's kind of player.
Posted by: afan | Aug 12, 2008 1:07:14 AM
Not browns kind of player? He defends, passes, and plays the right way? I'm pretty sure no rookie is Browns kind of player. While Brown had a nice run, he peaked with the Pistons. Brown is washed up and will not be able to cut it with the Cats. Weaver however will go on to prove Brown and the Bobcats wrong. OKC is a joke, but at least they know a quality guy when they see him.
Posted by: Carlton | Aug 12, 2008 1:15:38 AM
Look at the past few days transactions. Signing Shannon Brown, a player who essentially is just like Weaver, and now trading Weaver for a 2nd round pick.
Potentially acquiring a pick to use as part of a trade package to acquire the power forward the team so desperately needs?
Posted by: George | Aug 12, 2008 1:34:38 AM
No, George. 2nd round picks don't make any discernible difference in packages for impact players. 2nd round picks get you players like Kareem Rush, Jumaine Jones, and...Kyle Weaver.
I'm glad we got something for the kid (who isn't going to turn out to be anything in the Association) instead of waiting until camp and cutting him for nothing. Shannon Brown will be the same player without the rookie growing pains (and more scoring upside.) And no knee-jerk reactions if he puts up 7-3-2 this year. Seattle is terrible and Durant is the only other 2-guard they've got, so he'll get way more PT than he ever should.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 12, 2008 8:15:39 AM
Crap...this isn't the Sonics' own pick, either. Came over from the Nets, who, if not great, stand to be better than OKC.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 12, 2008 8:26:30 AM
Glad Rick gave us a nugget on his thoughts even while on vacation (how long a siesta do you get Bonnell...been gone a while)!
Shannon Brown has some experience and perhaps LB thinks he can mold him into the type of swing guard he needs. Weaver was history as soon as they signed SB.
This means nothing relative to the glaring need for a starting PF. I doubt Wallace is traded for a 4, cause we need every quality player available on this team. Ajinca is horrible, a very bad gamble, and will need a year in the NBDL to build a foundation for how to play the NBA game. May is unlikely to play much of the season, and to expect his skill and ability level to be close to the same before his surgery is folly. He was not an adequate starting 4 anyway.
Posted by: Makeadeal | Aug 12, 2008 8:42:00 AM
Sorry, but was it a surprise or not? This piece seems to be a bit of everything. I'd like a better understanding on what's going on that they draft a guy and then give up on him 6 weeks or so later. Thanks.
Posted by: rogelio | Aug 12, 2008 10:23:46 AM
It's a suprise that they would so quickly admit they do such a shitty job of drafting. Think Chris Douglas-Roberts could have been a good player? 15 PPG on 49% shooting, including games with 8, 9, and 11 FTAs, along with almost 4 RPG and over 2 APG. Almost 2 SPG to boot. Nathan Jawai's 11-6 in only 20 MPG? Richard Hendrix's 8 and 10 with 2 blocks and steals in 15 MPG? Maarty Leunen's 16-5? Nah, we didn't need any of those guys. We got Kyle Weaver! Which now might just turn into Jeff Adrian! Or Jeremy Pargo!
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 12, 2008 10:50:26 AM
Passing on CDR was absolutely a terrible mistake in my opinion, even if we are loaded w/ 6'6 wing players. The kid just knows how to play and knows how to score. I think he will be a valuable 6th or 7th man off the bench, which is more than most second rounders will ever amount to.
Procton, what stats are you throwing up there in your post, summer league games or NCAA stats?
Posted by: Mason | Aug 12, 2008 11:18:03 AM
I watch the NBA every season. I have lived in Charlotte my whole life. So I would love to be able to root for a competent team, committed to winning. That being said, we make the most ill advised moves of any organization in the damn league. Besides Augustin, who I am cinfident will be a sold contributor, the other two picks flat out didn't make any sense. I do not understand the obsession with potential over proven players and proven winners. NBA second rounders are not even guaranteed a contract, so why not take a flyer on C.D.R. who is a stud, or even someone like Billy Walker who has health issues but sure as hell can play at a high level, more-so than we've ever seen from Weaver or Ajinca.
Posted by: Hass | Aug 12, 2008 11:22:25 AM
All of those are summer league stats from this past summer league. And all of those were players drafted in the next 12 picks after Weaver, so it wouldn't have been much more unreasonable to get any of them than Weaver (who carried an undrafted grade in plenty of places.)
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 12, 2008 11:24:34 AM
Procton, I don't think that receiving the Nets pick is all that bad. Remember, they are in rebuilding mode after their trades of Kidd/Jefferson. Also, rumors are that Carter is likewise out the door (assuming another team will take on his outrageous contract). The pick should be in the late 30's.
Agreed that this was simply based on the assessment that Shannon Brown was a better prospect/fit for the team than Weaver. It doesn't mean Larry Brown is running the show, it just means that the front office is actively seeking to improve the team (which is a good thing, considering where we are right now).
Posted by: Cats_Fan | Aug 12, 2008 12:17:01 PM
I thought Weaver was a questionable pick when they drafted him. I am glad the Cats realized their mistake and got something in return. I question CDR's heart, but he is way better than Weaver. This trade is relatively inconsequential.
Posted by: Token | Aug 12, 2008 12:17:35 PM
The only good news about this trade is that it opens a spot. I do agree that Weaver was a BAD pick at 38, but the Bobcats should've try to do more. Maybe adding May, Morrison, Hollins or Davidson in exchange for Collison or Wilcox.
Posted by: RobC | Aug 12, 2008 1:02:53 PM
It's not "that bad," no, but even if the Sonics rise and the Nets fall to the point that they're even, the Sonics will still have a worse record (and thus, a better pick), because they get killed every night in the West. Either way, I'm glad we got SOMETHING out of a wasted pick that was high enough that it should have carried some present-tense value to us. Oh well. Hard to find a spot in the Bobcats blunder leaderboard for this one.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 12, 2008 1:36:38 PM
My biggest problem is the whole "weaver could have been LB's next George Lynch"
What?!?!?
Lynch was the leader, heart and soul, and a stat staffing player for a nat'l championship team in 93. (just look at the team the year after that failed to get out of the second round without him)
How do you compare the two players? Plus Lynch could fit in at PF as needed. Weaver was a 1-3, of which we had plenty. Was Hendrix really available and we still picked Weaver? Seriously?!?!?
They must know something about the PF position we don't...
Posted by: bonnell=procton | Aug 12, 2008 2:56:36 PM
Yes...Hendrix didn't go until #49.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 12, 2008 3:20:43 PM
Procton, not trying to nit-pick b/c I agree that Weaver was a bad pick and someone like CDR would have been a much better pick, however, you discredit the summer league stats and all-summer league performance for someone like Randolph and then use summer league stats to support your argument against Weaver. It political terms I would have to say you are flip-flopping.
Posted by: Mason | Aug 12, 2008 3:26:37 PM
from foxsports.com
please let the bobcats make an offer. this guy would be killer as a PF in the east.
Jazz dealing Kirilenko?
"With the Jazz still leery about exceeding the luxury tax threshold, it seems logical that either Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur or Andrei Kirilenko must go. And Andrei is probably the Jazz's preferred choice, although nobody within the organization will admit it. I thought coach Jerry Sloan and Kirilenko did a good job of putting aside their differences last season (although you have to wonder what would have happened if Utah hadn't been winning so many games). Still, as many of you pointed out, Kirilenko no longer looks like the happy-to-be-here player of the past. It's obvious he doesn't like his role in the offense. He clearly prefers the unstructured style he has been allowed to play the last two summers as the star of the Russian national team." - Salt Lake Tribune
Posted by: brendan | Aug 12, 2008 3:36:59 PM
No...you're totally allowed to use Randolph's Summer League stats to say he's going to be a better player than Kyle Weaver. Just not to say that he's going to be a successful NBA PF as you've argued.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 12, 2008 4:07:40 PM
No...you're totally allowed to use Randolph's Summer League stats to say he's going to be a better player than Kyle Weaver. Just not to say that he's going to be a successful NBA PF as you've argued.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Aug 12, 2008 4:10:29 PM
You forgot, Mason...only Procton knows how to use stats and is the final decision maker as to what stats matter and when and for which player. Only he knows anything, so why even bring it up?
So what do the board experts, and a civil procton, think about AK-47? Can't imagine LB would like him, or the bcats to spend the money, but he would seem to add a lot to the team if he wants to play here.
Felton
Jrich
GWall
AK47
Okafor
that's a pretty good team with some solid backups.
Posted by: bonnell=procton | Aug 12, 2008 5:07:47 PM
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