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July 04, 2009
A wee bit of news on Brandon Bass
I contacted Brandon Bass' agent, Tony Dutt, by email Saturday and he confirmed he has had conversations with Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins about Bass.
I'd heard some NBA team had offered Bass a five-year deal worth in excess of $25 million. Dutt declined to confirm whether the Bobcats made such an offer, but I'm told elsewhere the Bobcats wouldn't be that team.
It's clear the Bobcats have interest in Bass as their backup power forward. It's complicated, because the Bobcats already have tied up a lot of money in reserves DeSagana Diop, Nazr Mohammed and Vladimir Radmanovic. I'm told one potential solution could involve a sign-and-trade with Bass's previous team, the Dallas Mavericks.
Posted by Observer Sports on July 4, 2009 at 04:51 PM | Permalink
Comments
Rick...what could we possibly have that they'd want to do a S&T for that we'd be willing to give up?
Posted by: spectre | Jul 4, 2009 5:59:55 PM
Felton. Sign and trade Felton. Dallas is looking for a point possibly since Kidd is being courted by the Knicks. See if we can give Felton in a deal and get rid of someone else's bad contract in the process (Nazr).
Posted by: mp | Jul 4, 2009 6:25:24 PM
spectre,
raymond felton?
then go after iverson as dj's back up or sarter @ the point?
Posted by: vj singh | Jul 4, 2009 6:27:35 PM
Why would you trade a starter for a backup? Felton for Bass. Crazy. And DJ hasn't really showed that he can be healthy the whole season and run a team. If he go and get hurt who do we have? Iverson did not want to come off the bench in Detroit, why would he come off the bench here. They don't need those problems.
Posted by: Deon | Jul 4, 2009 7:06:30 PM
Just give Bass a five-year deal with the full MLE, for the love of God. As much as people gripe and moan about the team, winning cures a LOT of ills. The Bobcats aren't going to nickel-and-dime their way to success, or to popularity.
I read somewhere that Kidd appears likely to remain in Dallas, so that would probably rule out a sign-and-trade for Felton.
Posted by: Elevatorman | Jul 4, 2009 7:16:40 PM
I agree with Deon. Doesn't make sense. DJ is not proven yet. All we have is Ray Ray. I do not thnk they could make any other trade unless we could find a way to unload May and Nazr's contract. Until then almost everyone else is protected.
Posted by: raustin51 | Jul 4, 2009 7:24:40 PM
1. I don't know what they'd trade to Dallas to make such a thing happen. I just know sign-and-trade is a possibility. I think you guys know I don't throw out B.S. -- if I err, it's being too cautious.
2. Iverson is not a point guard. He's a scorer who can handle the ball when need be. And while he's small, he's tough beyond description. But he's also high-maintenance and do the Bobcats need that?
Posted by: Rick Bonnell | Jul 4, 2009 7:25:21 PM
By the way, Rick, thank you for working on July 4! You're the man for giving us these updates on a holiday. It is appreciated.
Posted by: Elevatorman | Jul 4, 2009 7:33:57 PM
Actually, I have seen it reported that AI has said that he would like to come to Charlotte because he likes Larry Brown. Mmmm...Mmm.. might not be so bad. I have faith in LB....Any more thoughts? I think Larry could handle the situation and DJ would play his heart out and sit back and wait... for his turn. However, is there anyway that we can make this happen. Probably not...
Posted by: raustin51 | Jul 4, 2009 7:42:02 PM
elevatorman: Thanks. So nice of you to say.
Raustin51: Where did you see quotes from Iverson, specific to Charlotte?
Posted by: Rick Bonnell | Jul 4, 2009 8:18:54 PM
I think the Bobcats should make an effort to get AI. Based on what Allen said from his Twitter account it looks feasible.
"my only preference will be to play for a coach that knows what I bring to the table and that I am going to bring it every night!"
Charlotte isn't going to get a notable free agent until they start winning. The only ones that are options are those with tarnished or damaged reputations. We would not have gotten Larry Brown if it wasn't from the disaster in NY. It was a good move. I think the same could be true for AI. It would be a short term contract and he would be determined to quiet those who say he's done. He also needs to prove his play doesn't poison teams after the Denver & Detroit stints.
Can the Bobcats stand to sit pat in the East?
Posted by: Les | Jul 4, 2009 8:30:15 PM
OK OK lets see start winning? i think we covered that this year!!! and Rick thanks man us true fans love just an upate lol Happy fourth and can i say something about A.I. we are AND if we get him it will be last min. b/c we have no funds left b/c of our "all star" Roster lol hahahahahahahaha just had to laugh my bad guys , but theres alot of time left in FA so i think that higgins and brown will be smarter about this just b/c of our sit. b/c if they fuck up its a carrer ending move so u have to think this is touchy move just be pattient and see i think we will be a 5 or 6 seed this year just have faith fellow cats much luv....(finally a dookie).....turDUKEfan
Posted by: trudukefan | Jul 4, 2009 9:03:54 PM
Actually I agree Les and
Rick,
It wasn't so much as I saw the quotes as I heard the quotes. I guess you have to take what you hear with a grain of salt. I was taking a lunch break between 4pm and 5 pm at my job site and I heard it on ESPN.
You know one of the free agent shows... They swore that AI said that he would like to play for Larry Brown because he would atleast know what to expect from him as a coach because he played for him before.
Right now a lot of people on the net are saying that this would be a good fit, but of course, we have been following this story before, you wrote a nice article on 04/24 about Ai being in town but not for NBA reasons(or was he???). I guess TBD but I did hear it on one of the free agent basketball shows via ESPN.
Brgds,
Rich
Posted by: raustin51 | Jul 4, 2009 9:14:17 PM
Felton would have to approve of being S&T to Dallas; he'd have to approve of the money and the years. He'd be BYC as well if he gets somewhere around 6 million starting out...so Felton being the one is a very long shot because then the trade couldn't use MLE money AND it'd have to fall within the 125% + 100k rule.
Rick, sorry...I know you don't throw out BS. I'm just at a loss on what we could possibly do that with unless it's something in a bigger deal.
Like with Mek.
Posted by: spectre | Jul 4, 2009 10:37:54 PM
While I am not up on all of the numbers or rules what if behind the scenes Felton is not wanting to stay long-term. Then a sign and trade with Dallas makes sense b/c you at least get something out of the deal and I believe Felton's qualifying offer falls within the trade range of the MLE price. Since it is a S&T you still have the MLE left to sign AI to fill the hole in the back court. Just a thought and I am not sure I would want the deal but...
Posted by: Jaybone | Jul 4, 2009 11:34:13 PM
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS PLEASE STEP UP AND GIVE BRANDON BASS A 5 YEAR / 25 MILL DEAL...WE DESPERATELY NEED HELP AND HE CAN FIX THAT.IF WE LAND HIM, WE WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS
Posted by: Elliot | Jul 5, 2009 12:12:56 AM
no no..they should use C okafor / C mohammed to SAC for C spencer hawes / PF jason thompson / PF kenny thomas
PG felton / C diop to LAC for PG davis / C camby or ATL PG bibby / SF William
SG bell to GSW for SG azubuike / SG belinelli.............
then we can make the playoff next year for sure..
Posted by: justintu | Jul 5, 2009 12:32:22 AM
Check out Allen Iverson's twitter page for info on where he wants to play next. http://twitter.com/alleniverson
Posted by: Twitter | Jul 5, 2009 12:48:52 AM
You can't trade him on his QO...that's why it's called a SIGN & Trade.
It's just too difficult to trade Felton. If in a S&T he makes 6 million we can only take back 3 million of his salary (while the other team has to take on the entire 6). You either have to be trading with a team under the cap...Dallas (nor the Clips) isn't...or else it has to be a bigger sized trade, like in the 12 to 15 million range.
On top of that if he's getting S&T then most likely he'll want his full asking price...reported to be 8 per year.
That's why I think if it's a S&T it almost has to involve Mek. My guess is Mek/Nazr for Dampier/Bass.
Posted by: spectre | Jul 5, 2009 7:12:01 AM
Here's what AI told FreeP.com about Larry Brown.
"He's like a father to me," Iverson said. "He knows how to use me."
Posted by: Les Porter | Jul 5, 2009 7:46:52 AM
what some of these posts point out, and spectre does it directly, is that if you want to get rid of a bad contract (Nazr for example), you have to GIVE UP something of value to offset the bad contract....so a 1st round draft choice, Omeka or Felton or even a Wallace may be the value to give up.
This is the cost of the stupid deal(s) to 1) trade away Hermann and Brezec, 2) the cost of giving Matt Carroll a 5 year contract and 3) exercising Adam Morrison's 4th year option.
Had those three decisions not been made, our salary cap situation would have been VERY different. In each deal we took on more 'out year' liability than we gave up, leaving us in the predicament we are in today.
Posted by: bobfan1 | Jul 5, 2009 7:54:07 AM
I think AI will be here by September at the latest. It makes perfect sense, the Cats can't keep finishing in the bottom of the league in scoring every year and expect to get to the playoffs. AI solves their scoring need, he gives them someone in the 4th quarter to provide that shot they need. He's stil capable of 20-30 plus points a game. He brings experience and leadership and he and Brown have chemistry. It doesn't even have to be long term, just a year, but the Cats need a "superstar". Sign & trade Felton for Bass, sign AI, have him and Bell start with Wallace, Diaw, and Okafor. Thats a solid starting 5. Bench would be Augustin & Henderson, with Bass, Rad & Diop. Thats a very solid lineup.
Posted by: D.W.G | Jul 5, 2009 8:02:47 AM
You can't S&T Felton for Bass.
BTW...I forgot to mention that Bass would be a BYC player as well making it even more difficult. A trade would almost have to be in the 15 million range from each side.
Posted by: spectre | Jul 5, 2009 8:16:38 AM
bobfan I definitely agree about trading for those long full MLE players, but I think Carroll actually worked out for us. Love him or hate him, LB & MJ wanted Gana badly enough to offer him that deal he's currently under (Dallas matched us), so we ended up trading a player Larry didn't want on a bad contract for one he did want badly.
I'm kind of with management here about being reluctant to give another out at 5 years. You have to stop digging if you ever want to get out.
Posted by: spectre | Jul 5, 2009 8:20:53 AM
I'm just curious as to why some of you are suggesting Iverson would back up Felton or Augustin. You do realize the man plays shooting guard? Yes he's small but he can play it and he would be a nice upgrade over Bell (no slate to Bell but lets be honest here). That gives us a lineup of Felton, Iverson, Wallace, Diaw, and Okafor with Augustin, Bell, and Radmodavic in the backup rotation. Henderson, Diop and others would get sporatic playing time. I'm really not sure why Iverson wouldn't make it known to come play here, he's said he wants to be a starter and he can be that here, plus Memphis where he showed interest has stated he'd be a backup. The best fit is here, Charlotte just needs to make the move to sign him.
I think we're a playoff team without Iverson but it won't be easy to make it.
And trudukefan, we did not "cover" winning this year. We won 35 games, thats a losing season. This team is getting better and for the first time I feel like we are a competitive basketball team but lets be honest, we haven't covered winning at all yet (well besides beating the Lakers).
Posted by: ND | Jul 5, 2009 8:40:28 AM
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