Now that the Cats are getting ready to start forming a team, a big question is gonna come up? How are they gonna structure their team, and who are they gonna start building around? Since its still too early to decide which specific player the team should build around, lets focus on types of players: What kind of player should the Bobcats build their team around? A point guard, a 2 guard, a forward, or a center?
You can't go wrong with defense, which is if Emeka Okafor is there, you select him. On many draft sites, Okafor is pegged at that 4 spot for the Bobcats, behind Josh Smith, Pavel Podkolzine, and Dwight Howard. Those 4 seem to be the cream of the crop up top, so I will ask what your opinions are on these kids. Many would be tempted by the size of Podkolzine, many love the potential of Dwight Howard, where do you stand?
I personally like Pavel Polkodzine and Dwight Howard. Pavel has the speed and quickness of a PF at 7'6, with good shooting skills. But on the other hand, Dwight Howard has unlimited potential, and could be one of the league's top forwards. I think their GM (i forgot his name, i think Grunwald or something) said they wanted to build around a guy who was athletic, quick, with a jumper, and with size around 6'10 and play PF. That statement points at Howard P.S. I'll try to find that Q&A thing where he said that....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ObieCent:</div><div class="quote_post"> Pavel has the speed and quickness of a PF at 7'6, with good shooting skills. </div> From what I've read, Pavel has little shooting skills and is very awkward with his footwork. He moves well for his size (w/o the ball), but I don't think like a powerfoward. I'm picturing a big Euro-Olowakandi (isn't Olowakandi technically a euro also?). If they teach him right, he could become unstoppable...But i wouldn't draft him if I were the Bobcats because I don't think he'll develop as well in an expansion team. I dunno why, it just reminds me of the Grizzlies drafting of Big Country Reeves.
I'd throw out the idea of trying to build the franchise around a rookie. I'd go for a big name free agent this summer. The Bobcats could sign any of the following players to a deal worth the NBA's maximum amount of money - <ul> [*]Kobe Bryant [*]Steve Nash [*]Latrell Sprewell [*]Antoine Walker [*]Kenyon Martin [/list] Most of the buzz has been that Kobe Bryant will sign with the Lakers, Grizzlies, or Clippers next season. However, not many people have mentioned the Bobcats. Kobe Bryant wants a franchise of his own, and signing for the Bobcats would give him just that, his very own franchise. I think the idea of being the Bobcat's first star player and creating a legacy for the team will be an exciting possibility or Kobe Bryant. So why has no one mentioned the possibility of him going to Charlotte yet? What am I missing? Roster A: PG - ? SG - Kobe Bryant SF - ? PF - ? C - ? Steve Nash, Latrell Sprewell, and Antoine Walker are all players who will likely not give the Bobcats any thought. I had them on my list simply because they were big names. I do not consider any of the realistic possibilities. The last player on that list has been wanting the NBA's maximum salary for a while, and I doubt any team will give him that. The Bobcats, however, could give him a salary close to the maximum contract which could persuade him to ink with them. It should be similar to the Nets/Spurs situation with Jason Kidd if Martin decides to give the Bobcats a look. Roster B: PG - ? SG - ? SF - ? PF - Kenyon Martin C - ? I left one player off that list, and I left him off for a good reason. That player is Rasheed Wallace. Wallace is not going to get close to max next season, partly because of age and partly because of his statements, so I did not put him on that list. I believe he is just as good if not better than those other players though, and you could build a franchise around him. I don't think the new-look Blazers will beg for him to return. Where else would he go? Utah has cap, but thinking about Rasheed as a Jazz is simply downright hilarious. Wallace is from Philadelphia, but they likely do not have the cap nor the tollerance for Wallace. How about Charlotte? Wallace went to college just down the road from Charlotte. The Bobcats would have the luxury of being able to offer him just the kind of contract he's looking for. It'd also give Wallace a chance to have a fresh start and finish off his career right. Roster C: PG - ? SG - ? SF - ? PF - Rasheed Wallace C - ? <u>Draft</u> After signing (or having a good idea of who they will sign since the draft is before Free Agency) their franchise player, the Bobcats will have the fourth pick in the draft. As of now, Luol Deng is predicted to be the fourth pick, but this could change if he doesn't declare. In this case, they'll likely take Okafor. This will not conflict with Roster A, Roster B, or Roster C. Roster A: PG - ? SG - Kobe Bryant SF - Luol Deng PF - ? C - ? Roster B: PG - ? SG - ? SF - Luol Deng PF - Kenyon Martin C - ? Roster C: PG - ? SG - ? SF - Luol Deng PF - Rasheed Wallace C - ? <u>FA Bargains</u> Brent Barry - Seattle has Allen, Murray, Daniels, and Ridnour. They aren't keeping him. The Bobcats could get him cheap. Carlos Boozer - Should be a close race between the Bobcats and Cavaliers. Although Boozer is Alaskan, he went to college in North Carolina. Chris Mihm Rafer Alston Malik Allen Kurt Thomas Gordan Giricek Marcus Fizer Carlos Boozer Morris Peterson Marcus Camby Jon Barry Stromile Swift Emanuel Ginobili Nick Van Exel Quentin Richardson Brent Barry Here are my three predicted starting lineups - Roster A: PG - Rafer Alston (or Brent Barry) SG - Kobe Bryant SF - Luol Deng PF - Kurt Thomas C - Lorenzen Wright (via expansion draft) Roster B: PG - Rafer Alston SG - Brent Barry, Jon Barry, Morris Petterson, or Gordan Giricek SF - Luol Deng PF - Kenyon Martin C - Lorenzen Wright (via expansion draft) Roster C: PG - Rafer Alston SG - Brent Barry, Jon Barry, Morris Petterson, or Gordan Giricek SF - Luol Deng PF - Rasheed Wallace C - Lorenzen Wright (via expansion draft) Which is your favorite? Are these ideas farfetched? I think they are, somewhat. It's fun to think about though.
You bring up a great point Wave, this would be what Kobe can use to be "the man" and prove to the world that he is the best player in the NBA and the reason why the Lakers won those titles (in his eyes of course) I like roster A, all because of Kobe, may seem far fetched to many, but I would not be shocked if Kobe would end up signing there.
I'd really try to build the francise around Martin or Kobe, but Martin is the more realistic one, and I think they should build around a post player, anyway. Nice post, Wave.
1. In the draft I think they will take a player that is 20 or younger with a lot of potential. Dwight Howard 6-10 225 PF Atlanta GA HSSr. Orlando Pavel Podkolzine 7-5 303 C (Russia) 1985. Chicago Josh Smith 6-8 210 SF Smyrna, GA HSSr. Luol Deng 6-8 220 SF Duke Fr. Tiago Splitter 7-0 236 PF (Brazil) 1985. Andris Biedrins 7-0 240 PF/C (Latvia) 1986. Then with there second round pick they will take a player that could be a very good role player off the bench or a role player in the starting lineup. James Thomas 6-8 235 PF Texas Sr. Brandon Mouton 6-5 210 SG Texas Sr. Chris Duhon 6-1 190 PG Duke Sr. Julius Page 6-3 191 SG Pittsburgh Sr. Arthur Johnson 6-9 265 PF Missouri Sr. Romain Sato 6-5 195 SG Xavier Sr. 2. In the expansion draft they will get players with large contracts but are still decent players. Lamond Murray- Small Forward Jerome Williams- Power Forward Antonio Davis- Center Lorenzen Wright- Center Eddie Robinson- Small Forward Brian Grant- Power Forward Rodney Rogers- Power Forward Howard Eisley- Point Guard Othello Harrington- Power Forward Clearence Weatherspoon- Small Forward/Power Forward Nazr Mohhomed- Center Chucky Atkins- Point Guard Chris Jeffries- Small forward Shawn Bradley- Center Danny Fortson- Power Forward Maurice Taylor- Power Forward Ruben Patterson- Shooting Guard Jerome James- Center Calvin Booth- Center These are some posibilities. 3. Look for the Bobcats to get cheap or young players via free agency. I dont think a player like Kobe, Nash, Wallace will want to go to the Bobcats. Rodney White- Small Forward Morris Peterson- Point Guard Stromile Swift- Power forward Emanuel Ginobili- Shooting Guard Carlos Boozer- Power Forward Marcus Fizer- Power Foward Quentin Richardson- Shooting Guard Malik Allen- Power Forward Gordan Giricek- Shooting Guard Michael Bradley- Power Forward Lonny Baxter- Power Forward Mikki Moore- Center 4.Then maybe get a few cheap veterens like: Tyronne Hill- Power Forward Rod Strickland- Point Guard Michael Curry- Small Forward Avery Johnson- Point Guard Rafer Alston- Point Guard Here is a projected lineup C- Wright(exp)/Moore(FA) PF- Fizer(FA)/Johnson(2nd round pick)/Malik Allen(FA) SF- Luol Deng(1st round pick)/Rodney White(FA) SG- Eddie Robinson(exp)/Chris Jeffries(exp) PG- Atkins(exp)/Alston(FA)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kid Canada:</div><div class="quote_post">Look for the Bobcats to get cheap or young players via free agency. I dont think a player like Kobe, Nash, Wallace will want to go to the Bobcats.</div> I can see Kobe actually going to the Bobcats, though. He wants to prove that he can win on his own and he also wants to be the franchise player, why not start here? And Wallace might want to go because he is out of position in Portland, and if he goes to the Bobcats, he automatically gets his natural position and it's in the weak East. But it is still very unlikely that any of them will go to the Bobcats.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kid Canada:</div><div class="quote_post">No way Sheed will go to the Cats.</div>You say that with so much confidence, but the Bobcats are pretty much the only team that will have the cap room to sign him to the contract he is looking for. You run a college board, right? So you know very well that Wallace went to North Carolina, which is real close to Charlotte. Why wouldn't he go to Charlotte?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">You say that with so much confidence, but the Bobcats are pretty much the only team that will have the cap room to sign him to the contract he is looking for. You run a college board, right? So you know very well that Wallace went to North Carolina, which is real close to Charlotte. Why wouldn't he go to Charlotte?</div> Another good point. Rasheed is a very realistic theory for the Bobcats. I can see him going to Charlotte very easily.
