« Bobcats busy on trade front | Main | Some thoughts entering the draft »
June 22, 2010
Don't discount a Pacers deal involving Ford
I'm not saying the Charlotte Bobcats and Indiana Pacers will make a deal, but this is interesting...
Larry Bird is intent on finding a point guard, other than T.J. Ford, to be the Pacers' starter next season. Ford and Pacers coach Jim O'Brien don't get along because Ford isn't enough of a pass-first guy and, frankly, they just don't get along because they don't get along.
This was apparent from the discussions the Bobcats had with the Pacers at the trade deadline. Ford was thrilled at the prospect he might be a Bobcat, but nothing was done.
And now we're here, with Bird committed to O'Brien and nothing resolved. I wouldn't get your hopes up about the Bobcats and the tenth pick -- I know Bird doesn't see D.J. Augustin as a starting NBA point guard -- but I wonder if somewhere down the road there could be a sign-and-trade that somehow exchanges Felton for Ford. The effect would be renting Ford in his last season under contract, while avoiding the hard choice of committing to a long-term contract with Felton.
-- Anyone like Toronto Raptor Jarrett Jack? He's available -- very available -- if the Bobcats wanted him.
Posted by Observer Sports on June 22, 2010 at 10:06 PM | Permalink
Comments
Ford is not the answer. I really don't see what Larry Brown likes about that dude. I understand the Cats are strapped for Cash, but there have to be better options.
Posted by: Token | Jun 22, 2010 10:34:38 PM
I would mortgage the future for Chris Paul....
Posted by: Ryan | Jun 22, 2010 10:50:48 PM
If Chris Paul is available due to financial reason in New Orleans, someone please put together a trade sending Chandler, Nazr and Diop for Paul and Okafor. That deal saves the Hornets 60 million dollar over the next 4 years. I would then sign Thomas for 8 million per and move Diaw to the 2nd team with Ajinca at backup Center.
2010-11 Bobcats
Paul, DJ
Jackdon, Henderson
Wallace, Brown
Thomas, Diaw
Okafor, Ajinca
This squad is a defensive Monster that contends for the Eastern conference championship each year.
Posted by: The Great Prognosticator | Jun 22, 2010 11:26:16 PM
aren't the hornets trying to move cp3, w/ the emergence of the pg draft last year? chris paul would be perfect.
Posted by: bunkombe | Jun 23, 2010 12:03:42 AM
aren't the hornets trying to move cp3, w/ the emergence of the pg draft last year? chris paul would be perfect.
Posted by: bunkombe | Jun 23, 2010 12:03:43 AM
If such a sign-and-trade takes place, it's only because Larry Bird and Jim O'Brien understand that Felton is a better option as starting point guard than T.J.Ford. I guess MJ and LB understand this as well. If the issue is some reluctance they have (and the Pacers may not have...) to offer Raymond a long term contract, and they want to keep options open for next summer for a starting PG, that's not necessarily a good idea.
I said it before, and I still think the same: you let Felton go, you get Ford - you're playing with fire, because you risk having next season as the first one in which the Bobcats decline, instead of continuing to improve. This is a huge risk in a town full of fairweather fans.
Jarrett Jack, that's a very different story: very good point guard, very affordable too (at $5 million per year). Very solid player, he can do about everything at a high level: very good playmaker and also defender, he can drive and also shoot, unselfish, great decision making. If the Bobcats could trade for him, that would be great.
Posted by: Sandy | Jun 23, 2010 12:38:45 AM
funny, just a few days ago, the thought of chris paul being traded anywhere was laughed at, no espn is reporting the hornets are shopping his mega deal (just like i said). its not unrealistic to see us lowball another team looking to move a contract, its been done TONS of times in the nba, the hornets even did it once before with baron davis moved for journeyman speedy claxton and a retiring dale davis. its a decent deal for the hornets if they get felton, solid as a role player behind their new starter dareen collison, plus they get a big body in dijon mustard, and a unknown in gerald henderson.
CP3 in charlotte in 2011 !!!
Posted by: brendan | Jun 23, 2010 6:05:13 AM
I've been callin for CP3 for months now! Do it, whatever it takes. Send locals DJ and Tyrus plus Muhammad and you got yourself a deal. Paul's knee is a bit of a concern however but still worth the risk.
PG Paul
SG Jackson
SF Wallace
PF Diaw (needs to be traded)
C Chandler
Posted by: gradyhog | Jun 23, 2010 6:48:57 AM
If we were to get Chris Paul and could dump some of the contracts...it is not beyond the realm of possibility that we could make a run at the King also. I know people think it is insane, but he wants to play with great players. Paul would not be trying to steal any of Lebron's thunder. It would at least be interesting.
Posted by: Ryan | Jun 23, 2010 8:44:29 AM
The Hornets' new coach is strongly opposed to trading Chris Paul.
Even if their GM will still look for a trade, the Bobcats are not the only team interested in CP3. So, they have the luxury of looking for an advantageous trade - not just trade for the sake of trading. I don't see the Hornets ready to clean up our bench for such a super asset as CP3; they'll want star for star.
Back to Jarrett Jack: I don't think he's better than Felton, but I think they're about even overall (each one having some pluses over the other). I'd keep Raymond, but since the management is reluctant to do it, I can see one big advantage in getting Jack (if that's possible): his contract. The Bobcats won't get Felton at $5 million per year.
Posted by: Sandy | Jun 23, 2010 8:47:00 AM
no chance at CP3 unless we want to give them Wallace and all our young talent and expiring contracts
Posted by: CatNation | Jun 23, 2010 9:27:02 AM
DJ augustin > tj ford.
Posted by: charlottean | Jun 23, 2010 10:13:29 AM
What about A.I? He wanted to come last year. He still wants to play. If we would rent a guard for a year and Felton walks, Id much rather have A.I as opposed to TJ Ford.
Posted by: Reggie-D | Jun 23, 2010 10:17:12 AM
So much for "upgrading" the PG spot.
I'm with Sandy pretty much all the way. Thing is though...since it certainly looks like we'll be letting Felton go because of how close we are to the luxury tax, how can we bring back any assets via S&T? If it was just the pick then sure, but Indiana is close to the same boat we are financially.
Trade for Jack...and esp. if he can be acquired without Hedo. I don't think he's an upgrade either...but between him and Ford he's easily the closest to status quo.
And yes...DJ is > Ford.
Posted by: spectre | Jun 23, 2010 10:24:23 AM
ya'll are crazy to think that jarret jack and tj ford arent better then raymond. i would gladly take either of them over the inconsistent felton, who was exposed in the playoffs and we need to move on. i dont think we will get cp3 this season, but depending on what we do will determine if we can sign him as a FA.
Posted by: Aluhrs | Jun 23, 2010 10:47:19 AM
You mean the guy who lost his starting job to Caleron (who the Raps are desperate to get rid of) and Earl Watson? The guy Bird has been desperate to get rid of?
If you think Felton has been "exposed" just wait til you get a load of Ford.
Posted by: spectre | Jun 23, 2010 10:53:44 AM
If we try to shoot for CP3 we would need to give up enough to make NOH at least consider it.
The Bobcats can offer:
Nazr - Expiring contract & decent Center
Jacksons - Much needed SF in NOH & goog talent
Boris Diaw - Decent PF & 2011 FA
Ajinca & Henderson - 2011 Team Options & young talent
2014 1st Round Pick
In exchange for:
Chris Paul, Emeka Okafor & Julian Wright
This will save NOH over $50 million in Cap Space, will give them young talent and a 1st Rd Pick.
Then the Bobcats should try to get Salmons, resign Tyrus Thomas and negotiate with Tyson an opt-out and resign for 4Yrs/$28M (equal to a 3Yrs/$15.3 extension.)
Split the 2010 MLE (about $5.5M) between Flip Murray and Hakim Warrick, sign Graham for the minimum and they still have 2 spots open.
The Bobcats will become a contender automatically and under NBA rules they will be about $3 millions over the Luxury Tax. MJ said he'll only do this if the Team is a contender, that team surely is:
Paul - DJ
Salmons - Flip - Graham
Wallace- Wright - Brown
Thomas - Warrick
Okafor - Chandler - Diop
This team is young, athletic, Top 5 in defense and way better ofensively. Plus add a great Coach like Brown and he might finish his contract with Charlotte.
Posted by: RobC | Jun 23, 2010 11:33:30 AM
Yeah i know, I might be dreaming, that assumes all pieces fall into a perfect scenario. But hey, dreaming is free!!!
Posted by: RobC | Jun 23, 2010 11:34:57 AM
Again with the ridiculous trade ideas...
You guys are seriously debating sending Diop, Mohammed, and Chandler for Paul and Okafor?
Seriously?
Rick, can you please step in once and while and tell people how absurd some of these suggestions are? Please? Just for fun?
Posted by: BobsRealist | Jun 23, 2010 11:39:22 AM
Hey this would be a great trade for the Bobcats in exchanging Felton for Ford. The reasons the brilliant Rick said and a few more: remember when D.J Augustine first was drafted by the Bobcats, well when we drafted him from Texas he and Texas ran a shoot-first not a pass first style. So if Ford joins the team and Felton leaves, D.J will finally have a successful mentor he can study and become better for the 2010-2011 Charlotte Bobcats season. And with D.J's increased knowledge next season, we will be able to put up a fight in the Playoffs with Orlando, Cleveland(if LeBron comes back), Atlanta, Miami, and the best of them !!! *** Don't you think if Ford were with us last season as our starting point guard, we would have won at least two games against Orlando ***
Posted by: Br2850 | Jun 23, 2010 11:45:18 AM
"Don't you think if Ford were with us last season as our starting point guard, we would have won at least two games against Orlando"
Yes...Ford's D is so much better than Felton's I'm sure he'd have just shut Nelson down.
Man, the "grass is always greener" folks are in for a very rude awakening if some of these scenarios do play out.
Posted by: spectre | Jun 23, 2010 1:17:48 PM
Considering that Jarrett Jack has never, never, EVER missed a shot whenever he has stepped foot into a Charlotte arena, heck yes I'd love to have him.
Posted by: J | Jun 23, 2010 1:44:56 PM
Post a comment
Advertisements
