Bobcats Trade

   The Charlotte Bobcats have few victories, few fans, no tradition and little to offer in a trade. They aren't going to part with rookie point guard D.J. Augustin. That leaves Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor and Jason Richardson.

   And now Richardson is gone. The Bobcats traded him and Jared Dudley to Phoenix this afternoon for Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Sean Singletary.

   Richardson was a big-time scorer and athlete. But he also was expendable.

   Look. Almost nothing Charlotte has done since it joined the NBA has worked. If Larry Brown believes Bell and Diaw improve the Bobcats, have at it. I love Bell's defense and toughness and Diaw's athleticism.

   They were Suns, and the Suns were once the league's most entertaining team. They were the prototype for the way basketball ought to be played. For years, they were up and coming.

   But they never quite got there. This season they changed coaches. They slowed down. After all those seasons running in front of the pack, they allowed the pack to catch them.

   Bell was less than entralled with the new order. Diaw had ceased to be the leaping, hustling force he was after Phoenix acquired him from Atlanta.

   They needed a change and Charlotte needs anything it can get.

   I'll miss Richardson, but the Bobcats have other players that can do what he did, albeit not as well.

    I'll really miss Dudley. The man is way too unpretentious to play in the NBA. The Suns will love him.  What a team needs, he attempst to provide.

   Many people -- I can't call them fans -- believe the NBA is about spoiled players who refuse to do the dirty work. They never saw Dudley play.

   

Comments

[Neel]

I agree

[Yeah?]

Don't you mean "enthralled?"

[derek]

this is a terrible trade for the Bcats, but very good for the Suns. Bell was probably the worst starting 2 guard in the league, so maybe he can come off the bench. Diaw has not done anything in 3 years, has some talent, but no other team in the league would have touched that contract. The Suns will be happy that they got rid of it. Bottom line the Bcats got two role players who would be a good players for a competitive team but dont help a bad team.

[Snowfall]

This is an absolutely horrible trade for the Bobcats! What the heck are they thinking??!!

I knew it was just a matter of time before Larry Brown started making his trademark stupid moves, and this signals what is sure to be many more. Too bad most in this state are still too enamored with the fact that he played at UNC for Dean Smith too realize that he is overrated and out-of-touch.

Certainly, they could have gotten more for Richardson than the junk Phoenix shipped them, PLUS they got rid of Dudley.

Thanks Larry Brown, you MORON

[Snowfall]

This is an absolutely horrible trade for the Bobcats! What the heck are they thinking??!!

I knew it was just a matter of time before Larry Brown started making his trademark stupid moves, and this signals what is sure to be many more. Too bad most in this state are still too enamored with the fact that he played at UNC for Dean Smith too realize that he is overrated and out-of-touch.

Certainly, they could have gotten more for Richardson than the junk Phoenix shipped them, PLUS they got rid of Dudley.

Thanks Larry Brown, you MORON

[Snowfall]

This is an absolutely horrible trade for the Bobcats! What the heck are they thinking??!!

I knew it was just a matter of time before Larry Brown started making his trademark stupid moves, and this signals what is sure to be many more. Too bad most in this state are still too enamored with the fact that he played at UNC for Dean Smith too realize that he is overrated and out-of-touch.

Certainly, they could have gotten more for Richardson than the junk Phoenix shipped them, PLUS they got rid of Dudley.

Thanks Larry Brown, you MORON

[elampke]

Oh well. No worries, a washed up Juan Howard is on the way! Maybe the city can get a bailout package for the Bobcats. But I guess that would mean we would have to keep them. Nevermind.

[Derek]

Its weird to watch an NBA team in Charlotte these days...

When the Hornets were around it was a lot of fun to watch.

The bobcats offer pretty much nothing at all as far as getting fans in the stands is concerned, not a good team, not an interesting stadium, not a single star on the court.

They finally attain Jason Richardson, someone who could bring a couple of people in, I personally would never pay for a bobcats game, but I would go to one to see Jason Richardson play at least, even if the other team was the Thunder.

To see this trade happen and Larry Brown be at the fore front just makes me pretty disappointed, Look at all the other franchises he drove into the ground, the man is not any good anymore, and does not serve a purpose in the NBA other than to wreck a franchises hopes and dreams of ever becoming something other than a team that has no talent, no stars, and no reason to even watch them on TV.

Good luck Bobcats, Bob Johnson will be selling this franchise soon.

[SunsFan]

Thank you Bobcats!

I can't believe there are people trying to sell this trade as a good thing for the Bobcats. No way. You get Bell, who I will miss, but his skills are on the decline and he tends to break down towards the end of the season. He's still a solid defender but it won't be for much longer.

As for Diaw, you get one of the bigger underachievers in the NBA. I highly doubt he'll have a great relationship with Brown once he sees firsthand how lazy he is. Diaw is a pass-first, shoot-last kind of player that always needs to be pushed to be aggressive. Even then, he'll end up driving to the basket only to kick out to a player for a three-point shot. He could make a three footer but he prefers someone else to shoot a three pointer. Also, his contract was TERRIBLE. I thought the Knicks would be the only team to take it. Guess not.

Thanks Charlotte!

[TP]

Did Jordan lose a bet with Steve Kerr or something? This trade was horrible, and now a team that didn't have much of an identity before now has none. Richardson was the best thing the Bob's Cats had and Dudley was a nice piece. Oh well, it's a good thing Stay-Puff May and Stand-still Morrison are still here to save us all!

Sorry Charlotte, you deserve better.

[RealityCheck]

Bobcats smobcats who really cares? They wont be around much longer anyway. Those responsible for running Shinn and the Hornets out of town need to be horse whipped cuz the bugs were the real deal. BJ is probably close to filing bankruptcy since his VIA stock is almost worthless and he spent the rest for the Cats. His only hope if for an Obama bailout and thats a possibility ... We truly believe that had the Hornets not been railroaded out due to ignorance and stupidity Shinn would have named MJ as HC and a part minority ownership and won a couple NBA titles and maybe a dynasty built up but thats long over. The grande massive spacious spectacular Tyvola arena at 23k seats could have been modernized ...

**On another note NFL Panther fans along with Charlotte and the Carolinas take heed as owner JR in very dire critical shape and without a heart transplant wont make it much longer notwithstanding the fact that a used heart may extend life for a year at best if you lucky.
We wish JR the best but it dosent look good. JR has proven that integrity and honor can pervade and succeed in the crazy greedy sports world of the modern age and we know there is not a more quality pro sports owner in America than this Spartanburg SC homeboy who went to Wofford and then played for the early 60s old Colts in Balty under Shula with the alltime great one Johnny Unitas QB and great WR Raymond Oarr along with big Bubba on the line.

[Bubs]

I don't understand this trade. Charlotte is by far the worst scoring team in the league. So how is trading away your top scorer going to improve things? That's great they improved their defense but when you're average points per game are dead last by more than 2.5ppg, shouldn't you look to add offense?

[Del]

Bad trade for the Bobcats, you can't deny that……but what's up with all this love for the Hornets. It amazes me how the Hornets can be considered a better organization when their owner was caught committing adultery and sleeping with younger/underage girls. Not to mention all of the former players for the hornets who had incidents with the law. What's with the hate for the arena. Was there hate it last weekend when over 10k came to see Davidson beat NC State? Or how about when there is a Rolling Stones or a Hanna Montana concert?

Ridiculous!!

[CJ]

Need proof Michael Jordan is an idiot; consider this. Recall he traded Brandon Wright for Jason Richardson. Richardson becomes the teams leading scorer, while Brandon Wright, a 6”10 power forward, averages 8 points and 4 rebounds for Golden State. Now Jordon trades Richardson for Boris Diaw, a 6”8 power forward who averages, umm, let’s see, 8 points and 4 rebounds. Couple that with the fact that Wright would have been paid under the rookie scale and well, you get the point.

[Jokester]

Clearly this is a move to free up cap space so we can get LeBron. I'm sure MJ saw how much LeBron liked being in the arena last Saturday, watching the Davidson game and then playing the Bobcats. MJ probably took that as a sign that LeBron would love to play here in 2010.

Is there any other logical explanation for this trade, because I can't find one.

[Will (Patient Bobcats fan)]

This is not a bad trade at all....Richardson didn't make the team any better in the two years he was here...he was very expendable...remember defense wins championchips, the celtics reiterated this last season...Bell brings tough defense...consistent outside threat...playoff experience...and veteran leadership...richardson was good but he would either go 7-10 on 3s or 1-12...inconsistency doesn't win games...Diaw gives us a starting power foward that even if he is lazy hes 20x better than sean may so I can't complain...this will not be a repeat of Larry Brown in NY...the knicks have proven to be a train wreck no matter what or who they have in that organization...Richardson was only a mid level star anyways..not an all star or all-pro...this will improve the Bobcats drastically and make us more of a team instead of a "get it to richardson" team when he's healthy...remember, two years ago when Richardson was still in Golden State and we won the most games we have as a franchise yet...Gerald Wallace was our leading scorer...he's still here....and he finally quit taking jump shots...PLUS cap space has been cleared and we are going to get a lottery pick more than likely...so relax Bobcats fans...we can't expect instant gratification...relax

[Will (Patient Bobcat fan)]

This is not a bad trade at all....Richardson didn't make the team any better in the two years he was here...he was very expendable...remember defense wins championchips, the celtics reiterated this last season...Bell brings tough defense...consistent outside threat...playoff experience...and veteran leadership...richardson was good but he would either go 7-10 on 3s or 1-12...inconsistency doesn't win games...Diaw gives us a starting power foward that even if he is lazy hes 20x better than sean may so I can't complain...this will not be a repeat of Larry Brown in NY...the knicks have proven to be a train wreck no matter what or who they have in that organization...Richardson was only a mid level star anyways..not an all star or all-pro...this will improve the Bobcats drastically and make us more of a team instead of a "get it to richardson" team when he's healthy...remember, two years ago when Richardson was still in Golden State and we won the most games we have as a franchise yet...Gerald Wallace was our leading scorer...he's still here....and he finally quit taking jump shots...PLUS cap space has been cleared and we are going to get a lottery pick more than likely...so relax Bobcats fans...we can't expect instant gratification...relax

[Jokester]

Will (Patient Bobcat fan):

We need to relax because we're going to get a lottery pick? Are you serious?!?! Yeah, our other recent lottery picks are doing wonders for the team, May and Morrison. Not to mention B Wright who we shipped off for J-Rich. Boy I can hardly contain my excitement over the prospect of getting another player of their calibur.

That has to be the dumbest comment I've seen in a long time.

[Mike Sobran]

Hey, I agree with everyone that Larry Brown is a moron and of coarse, his ego would get in the way with JRich's talent...no question Larry Brown is one of the dumbest coaches I've ever seen (Hall of Fame, my ass) but who hired this jackass and who made this horrific trade? Is it the same guy who drafted Adam Morrison over that Brandon Roy? Hmmm...How come that model of greed and incompetence gets a pass on this debacle...

Wait 'til he trades Gerald Wallace to New York for Eddy Curry or some other such idiotic move. Charlotte, you're being fooled...MJ, you suck.

[JasonPrague]

wait. so they trade their best scorer and athlete for two has-beens and a 2nd (not even a first) round pick?

Bobcats I've been trying to love you since the Hornets left but these idiotic decisions are making it very difficult.

[Will]

Every post on here shows what is wrong with Charlotte sports fans...again...defense wins championships...Raja Bell is not a has been...he HAS BEEN to the playoffs...he HAS BEEN on a winning team...he brings toughness and attitude to a team with neither...JRich did not make us better...he made us a team that tried to be something we are not...Adam Morrison...yes bad pick...there is only one all star from that entire draft...Brandon Roy...people miss on draft picks all the time Olowakandi...Sam Bowie...jordan did not draft May...who is terrifically horrible...when you come into a city that expects instant playoffs and instant 50 win seasons...you try to make a splash by trading for Jrich...then he MJ screwed it up by hiring Vincent..that is obvious...he is attempting to give Larry Brown what he needs to win...so we trade a mid-level star...not even all star caliber...for a NBA All Defensive first teamer...and a versitile big man who can solve the problem looming at power foward...raja bell can hit as many 3s as richardson and actually play top level defense, who could have guarded Kobe, LeBron, and Dwade before this trade...? NO ONE...now we have someone who can at least slow down their production...JRich could not...this is another case of Charlotte fans wanting flash and style points instead of wins trust me I have lived here my entire life and watched Charlotte fans progress to this...has Jordan done a good job in Charlotte?...No...but at least he is trying to rectify that...he has shown in recent weeks that he wants to win more than anything...once we get rid of Bob Johnson (the real true problem with the franchise)...we will be even better off...but watch in due time...this trade will pay huge dividends one way or another

[SF Bobcats]

Come on Will. Your not giving Richardson enough credit. This guy is an allstar caliber shooting guard in the prime of his career. He's more than a mid level star. Think about the 2nd half of last season when there was just no stopping the guy. And you say that he did not make this team any better...right when he came into the Bobcats he had to deal with the short comings of Sam Vincent. How is the guy going to carry the team or perform at his best when your coach and leader is an inexperienced idiot. It looked like Richardson started playing his best once everyone realized that they have to ignore Vincent. Then you come into this season, and he missed almost half the games that have been played so far. And when he did come back, the Cats went 4-2 in 6 games. And on top of all this, you gave him up for a declining defensive "specialist" who wont be able to keep up with Kobe or Lebron over the next 2 years and a soft, unproven, unmotivated big man. Im not saying that the additions of these 2 guys cant improve the cats, but in terms of PR, its a terrible move for a team in a city that already has a tough time drawing fans AND you give up this talented, hardworking, dedicated stand up performer for a couple of question marks. The bobcats should have gotten SO much more for him. JRich is a west coast kinda guy and it sounds like he's excited about not only heading west, but playing on an allstar ridden team with Amare, Nash and Shaq. Good Luck JRich, you deserved so much more from the city of Charlotte...I hope the city of Phoenix embraces you the way you tried to embrace Charlotte. Good luck you will be missed, at least by what used to be this bobcat fan

[Will]

Defense, Attitude, Toughness, and Leadership mean more to a team than PR and 21 ppg, you get those things, start winning games, the PR will come, you do make very good points though SF Bobcats, JRich is a great guy who did try an embrace this city, for once someone did, but a change needed to be made, the only thing i regret about this trade is giving up Jared Dudley, he had more toughness and rebounding, Bobcats neede rebounding and toughness...we got it boht with this trade...its about improving the team.not improving the teams PR. Go Bobcats.

[Jokester]

Well if we're going to heap praise on Bell and Diaw for being on a team that has been to the playoffs, there are plenty more guys we could trade for that have the same qualification. So if defense wins championships and we got a great defender in Bell, then clearly the Bobcats are a sudden contender for a championship...right? Diaw solves nothing inside. The Cats need a true center so Emeka can play the 4, where he will be more effective. Boris is not that true center.

Sure, the Suns were a winning team and a playoff team but Bell and Diaw were role players along side of Nash, Amare, Marion (when he was there). While Diaw and Bell were contributors, they weren't the main pieces to the Suns success. The Cats traded their best scorer, on a team that scores the least in the league, and Dudley, a guy who hustles and does all the intangibles for a defensive specialist and an upgrade over May at the 4? Where is the logic in that? But hey, at least we have a guy in Bell who can keep Kobe/LeBron/Wade to 30 instead of 40...so that's a plus.