Scenarios to Land Paul or Marvin

Discussion in 'Charlotte Hornets' started by Shapecity, May 26, 2005.

  1. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2003
    Messages:
    45,018
    Likes Received:
    57
    Trophy Points:
    48
    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Here's a look at scenarios that might enable the Bobcats to land Williams or Paul:

    ?To get Williams, who is projected to go no later than the second pick by NBA executives and draft analysts, the Bobcats would likely have to make a trade with Milwaukee for the No. 1 pick. It would be hard to believe that Atlanta, with the No. 2 pick, would be willing to trade down to help out a divisional rival, even if Milwaukee passed on Williams and selected Utah's Andrew Bogut.

    The difficulty with trading up with Milwaukee is that there seem to be few possibilities that would be attractive to both teams.

    The Bucks have indicated they are open to trading the pick, but the Bobcats have only four players under contract for next year that they could offer - Okafor, Primo Brezac, Melvin Ely and Jason Hart.

    Okafor is untouchable. Brezac and the fifth pick would probably be giving up too much for the first pick, and there's probably no way to put Ely or Hart into a deal that would catch Milwaukee's eye, especially with other teams trying to trade with Milwaukee.

    Milwaukee would no doubt be open to trading the No. 1 pick for Charlotte's two lottery picks - Nos. 5 and 13, which was acquired from Cleveland. But at this stage of the Bobcats' development, it's hard to envision Bickerstaff giving up two lottery picks for any one player.

    Other options would be to include a third team, or to agree to take on a high-salaried player from another team, since the Bobcats have more cap flexibility than anyone. But both of those scenarios would be long shots.

    ?To get Paul, who is considered to be a notch below Williams and Bogut, the Bobcats might not have to give up as much. And it's not out of the question that Paul could still fall to them at No. 5, without any trades.

    The safest way to lock up Paul would be to work a deal with Portland for the third pick. The Blazers, too, seem open to the idea of trading that pick. The problem would again be coming up with a viable deal that would help both teams, because of the Bobcats' limited number of veteran players.

    But Bickerstaff could get creative. He could, for example, package the No. 5 pick this year with lottery-protected future first-round picks for the No. 3 pick. He could use cap space to do a sign-and-trade with a free agent of the Blazers' liking. He could offer Portland compensation not to draft Paul in hopes that Paul would then fall all the way to the No. 5 spot. He could again try to bring in a third team. Or, he could agree to take a player with a big contract off the Blazers' hands, if they feel the need to open cap space.

    Bickerstaff could also stand pat and hope to get lucky as the draft plays out, because there is a scenario in which Paul would drop to No. 5.

    If Bogut goes No. 1 to Milwaukee and Williams goes No. 2 to Atlanta, Portland could pass on Paul, since it drafted Sebastian Telfair last year to be its point guard of the future. There has been some speculation that Portland could draft 6-8 high-schooler Gerald Green at No. 3 if it doesn't trade the pick.

    If that happened, there's a very real possibility that Paul could drop to No. 5. New Orleans, with the fourth pick, is known to be extremely high on Illinois' Deron Williams, probably moreso than Paul.

    Bickerstaff would be taking a couple of big risks, though. If Portland chose to trade the No. 3 pick to someone besides the Bobcats, that team would likely gobble Paul up. And, of course, New Orleans could trade the No. 4 pick to a team interested in Paul - or it may be bluffing with its supposed interest in Deron Williams over Paul.

    Of course, Bickerstaff may not feel compelled to make any moves. The Bobcats will work out all of the top prospects in the coming weeks, and in that time their evaluations could change. They could wind up liking someone else more than Paul by then. Or, conversely, after working out Paul they might like him so much that they would be willing to give up a lot to get him.

    From Paul's standpoint, there are a lot of scenarios that could still play out.

    Milwaukee will give him consideration with the No. 1 pick, because of health concerns over T.J. Ford, their starting point guard. Atlanta has a major need at point guard, although indications are that the Hawks are determined to take whomever is left between Bogut and Marvin Williams. Portland could determine that Paul is better than Telfair. New Orleans could indeed be bluffing about its infatuation with Deron Williams.

    And, of course, anyone else interested in Paul knows that there are teams at the top willing to trade their picks.

    A lot of this could have been moot had the Bobcats landed the No. 3 pick. That's the irony of it all. But that's also the one thing Bickerstaff has no control over now. He can't change that.

    "That's the way the ping pong ball bounces," he said. "We have to move on."</div>

    Source
     
  2. playmaker15

    playmaker15 JBB Droppin Dimes

    Joined:
    May 26, 2005
    Messages:
    3,313
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    i think that the trade with Portland makes the most sense because it's a win win for both teams. Portland coul land green with the 5 pick because he gives them an uptempo player who has drawn many comparisons to tracy Mcgrady, adnthe Bobcats could get the man they want in Paul, but they would have to either giv up a future pick or an ok player to get that pick from Portland.
     
  3. swyftdahoe

    swyftdahoe JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2004
    Messages:
    112
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I'm rooting for the Bobcats to be able to pull off sum magic on draft night. But the only wrench I see in this trade plan with the Blazers is that New Orleans could try to nab Green, thus deterring the Blazers from trading down to 5. Why? 'Cuz New Orleans is a wreck of a franchise and they need as much hype/pizazz (Green's game is all flash right now) as they do actual talent.

    But yeah, I'd still like to see the Bobcats take Sean May with the 13th pick. I'm not convinced with the shooting guards and such that they've been considering. I appreciate Sean May's proven talent and winning leadership. He and Emeka could be a great tandem. And in the worse case scenario, he could be a solid backup to Emeka and Primoz.

    Peace.
     
  4. Alley-oop

    Alley-oop JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2003
    Messages:
    1,557
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    The only thing I don't want to see the bobcats do is trade the #5 pick and #13 in order to move to the 1,2,or 3 spot.
     
  5. swyftdahoe

    swyftdahoe JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2004
    Messages:
    112
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I can't see them trading in 2 for 1. Not at this point. They might be able to entice Portland with the #5 and a future first rounder or something. That seems to make the most sense.
     
  6. Bobcats

    Bobcats JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2004
    Messages:
    4,843
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting swyftdahoe:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm rooting for the Bobcats to be able to pull off sum magic on draft night. But the only wrench I see in this trade plan with the Blazers is that New Orleans could try to nab Green, thus deterring the Blazers from trading down to 5. Why? 'Cuz New Orleans is a wreck of a franchise and they need as much hype/pizazz (Green's game is all flash right now) as they do actual talent.

    But yeah, I'd still like to see the Bobcats take Sean May with the 13th pick. I'm not convinced with the shooting guards and such that they've been considering. I appreciate Sean May's proven talent and winning leadership. He and Emeka could be a great tandem. And in the worse case scenario, he could be a solid backup to Emeka and Primoz.

    Peace.</div>

    Why take May when we already have Okafor at PF?
     
  7. swyftdahoe

    swyftdahoe JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2004
    Messages:
    112
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">Why take May when we already have Okafor at PF?</div>

    Depth. I'm not sold on the fact that they'll be able to find a quality starter with the #13. It's just my personal opinion that adding May will help solidify their front court for years to come. The #5 should get them a starting guard or something. I don't think you can build totally from the draft. They're gonna need some quality free agent signings. So in the meantime, why not draft for some depth? You can never have too many good big men.
     
  8. Mamba

    Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2003
    Messages:
    42,357
    Likes Received:
    502
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Temecula
    I really don't think May would settle for a bench position. He is on an emotional high for one thing, he tore it up in March Maddness so I think his confidence is through the rough, and to be on the bench behind a second year player, not a veteran, might anger him.
     
  9. The_Future

    The_Future JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2005
    Messages:
    101
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Trading with Portland would really help the Bobcats chances of getting who they want, but the problem with that is they need to throw in a future first round draft pick IMO to actually get the #3 pick. Also its said that Portland wants Gerald Green who very well could drop to 5, but I wouldn't be suprised if New Orleans took him at 4 so that would only hurt Portland. So the deal might not work however Portland is known to be stupid and what not so I wouldn't be suprised if they went down a few spots.
     
  10. Zhone

    Zhone JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2004
    Messages:
    1,351
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    I don't know May's temparament that well, but all rookies have to learn to be humble, that's the only way they can make it in the league at the start. They have to be patient and accept whatever roles they're given, even if only begrudgingly.

    As was already mentioned, New Orleans is the wrench in this plan. They could go many ways and they know that Portland likes Green. They could draft Green and try to trade up as well, if Portland would do it with the Cats, they would certainly think about doing it with New Orleans.
     
  11. MaxBallin

    MaxBallin JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2004
    Messages:
    156
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    May is going to be a huge bust in the NBA. Mark my words. Any team that drafts him is absolutely crazy.
     
  12. The Big Ticket

    The Big Ticket JBB JustBBall Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2005
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    I really want the Bobcats to draft Marvin Williams. He's worth 2 lottery picks.
     

Share This Page