Bobcats Pre-Draft Summit

[APerna]

I apologize for the fact that the Bobcats are no longer playing, but there is one bright side to the "unofficial" start of the offseason. It's time for the annual Pre-Draft Summit, led by myself (Andrew Perna). The pieces will be turned into articles, and will be part of a three-pronged attack of draft coverage on RealGM.

Thanks in advance for the answers, and please remember to try keeping the answers as tight and concise as possible.


1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 12th pick?


Thanks for taking the time, and contributing answers. We appreciate that you all help make RealGM what it is today!

[Felton for Pres]

Can't wait to see all the responses to this.

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
The easy answer is to say make changes earlier but that doesn't really do it justice. To start the season, flat out, they weren't a playoff team. Once they made the trade in Dec and dumped Ammo, they blended and were a playoff team. Too little too late. Bodes well for next year though.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Defense and effort. Yes, there were a few games that they forgot to show up for, but its a long season. They typically would hang with all the elite teams (sans CLE) and more often than expected they would actually win.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
The used of the word "surprisingly" makes this a little hard to answer. Given that, I think the nod goes to Boris. I'm not sure anyone really knew what to expect out of him when he came over from PHX. He instantly made the offense flow more efficiently and provided much better defense than I personally expected.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
I'd say May but that wasn't surprising. I wouldn't call it an ineffective season for Mek but I was expecting more. He got his big contract. He had a coach who likes to move the ball around and drive to the hole, which should have given him a good deal of chippies. Again, he had a decent year, but he was not as effective as he should have been.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
I certainly feel better with the addition of LB but I don't think you can answer this until the ownership issue gets squared away. For example, how does the ownership issue impact the re-signing of Felton?

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Clearly an athletic SG/SF who can score. Raw talent is fine by me at the 12 spot. When Raja went down (GWall too for that matter) we really lost a lot on the offensive end.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 12th pick? I'd love Harden or DeRozen but doubt they drop. Of the guys likely to be available, I think I'd have to go with Gerald Henderson or Earl Clark.

[fatlever]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
- trade richardson for diaw and bell before the season started.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
- larry brown. defense. effort. unselfishness. unity

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
- juwon howard. i honestly thought he had nothing left to offer an NBA team. however, he was "surprisingly effective" in the minutes he played.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
- matt carroll. he was bad to start the year. really bad. he was always consistent in the past.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
- considering the recent news of bob johnson trying to sell the team, i am not very confident. i fear they FO will try to save money. however, larry brown might have other plans.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
- an athletic wing who can create his own offense and create for others, a scoring post player, a tough minded thug power forward

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 12th pick?
- realistically, based on current mocks, either henderson or blair

[BigSlam]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Make the trade we made sending JRich out for Boris and Raja over the summer rather than during the season.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Having versatile players.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Vladamir Radmanovic (when he got here). His D was better than I thought it was and he can drive.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Sean McMay (again)

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
I feel a little better knowing that Larry Brown has everyones ear

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Starting/back up SG. Grunt type PF.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 12th pick?
In order (assuming the mocks stay true): Williams, Evans, Henderson, Curry, Blair or Clark.

[chrbal]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs? Gotten a Delorian or a Phonebooth and hired Larry Brown away from the Detroit Pistons back in 05? or 06? (not sure when he bolted for New York.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths? A showing of unity and effort.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season? The Phoenix duo of Diaw and Bell. I figured they would help, but not as much as they did.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season? I'd say Morrison. I knew it would be hard for him to adjust to Larry, but damn. He was given playing time and he still couldn't do anything. May is a close 2nd, but if I don't really expect anything of him...how can I be suprised?

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason? 8.14 out of 10.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft? A great wing who is more a 2 then a 3.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 12th pick? Blake Griffin. Tyreke Evans would be a nice fit, but he would have to deal with the fact that he would have to earn playing time.

[WaydownSouth]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Like everyone else, make the J-Rich trade earlier. This trade seemed to unite the team and they became more creative with the addition. Diaw added so much with his ability to be able to create.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Enery and hussle. I like the fact that most of our players can slide across and play another position. I also really like the defense of this squad and I think it will improve next season. It's also amazing what a real coach can do.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
I think I have to go with Diaw. His effectiveness and overall ability make the team better.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Morrison. Was given the chance but never took it. McMay also rates. He needs to go.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Ownership issue impacts this hugely. Hopefully LB will steer the ship in the right direction. Start with resigning Felton.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
SG. I'd also like to see a bruiser added.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 12th pick?
Going by mocks, Hendersen (but I've read reports he looks small), Clark or Blair

[arh1109]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs? Nothing really, we were nothing close to a playoff team in the beginning but got very lucky in the trade with Phoenix that gave us two players that work well in Larry's system. After December, we gradually moved up in the standings and inched closer within the 8th seed. We played very streaky often following successive wins with successive losses but always remained in striking distance of the 8th spot. Once other teams suffered injuries (Michael Redd, Devin Harris, Danny Granger) it was really only us and Chicago that were highly favored to get in. Once they made the trade for Miller and Salmons they noticeably turned it up and pulled away. While we still remained alive for the spot, the window closed when we lost a few single key games and was shut down for good when Raja Bell when down.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
We have a great unselfish group of guys that works hard and buy into Larry's system. We can hang with any team in the league when everyone shows up to play.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Boris Diaw was the big surprise to me. I didn't know he would bring the versatility or scoring that he brought. He really fit into this team well.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Morrison, this was his make or break season and he proved that he was a major bust. Basically a wasted top 3 pick.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
About 80 %. Hopefully MJ becomes the majority owner since he gives a face to the franchise and motivates the players when he goes to the games. As long as management listens to Larry's advice and resigns Felton I feel like we'll pick right back up from last season and be in position to go into the postseason.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Starting Sg/sf who can defend and hit open shots. Another guy we need is a banging pf who can shut down opposing post players and control the boards.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 12th pick?
There's 3 guys who catch my eye. Gerald Henderson would be a safe pick who we could morph into Raja Bell v2 since Bell's age is getting up there and his future is uncertain. Terrence Williams would be a great fit for this team long term but our picks a little bit early to pick him. His versatility and habit of doing all the little things to win will put him in Larry's good graces. He'll be a rookie headcase but has the perfect coach to succeed. Could also be a Lebron stopper. The last guy I look at is Dejuan Blair whose toughness will allow him to stay on the floor. He might not have much upside but will certainly fill in a need immediately.

[Bassman]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
I asked for a trade before the start of the season to aquire a PF. Perhaps the Diaw/Bell deal couldn't get done until later, but earlier would have been much better. We had to have a fast start and win early due to the schedule, and it didn't happen. In another scenario I believe different draft picks (Lopez and Chalmers) would have given us a boost in key areas of need to help us sneak into the post season.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Improved defense and better offensive execution. It took some time, trades and culture change but LB got this team actually playing like one. Watching the offense was enjoyable most nights, and the defensive rotations were much better in the 2nd half of the season.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
I will say Crash, but for reasons that fit this question. No one doubted his ability to score, but who knew if he could play within a system and become a better all-around player? Wallace hasn't arrived yet, but last year he demonstrated to the coach and himself that he could adapt and contribute within LB's structure. If he can take that next step toward consistency, he could become a star player.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
I will also vote Okafor, given that he did not improve his game to any great degree, and in fact fell back in the later stages of our effort to make the playoffs. If LB cannot motivate him to become much better a trade is in order.

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Frankly it's 50/50. Brown gives me some comfort, but some of his ideas (Diop) seem like a stretch. Ownership will take care of itself, and we close enough to the cap that no big money free agent deal is even a possibility. I want to see us perform better with our draft pick, and try to make another significant deal for a starting power forward. Love Boris but he's a liability on the boards.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
I'll quote Felt For Pres here: "Clearly an athletic SG/SF who can score. Raw talent is fine by me at the 12 spot. When Raja went down (GWall too for that matter) we really lost a lot on the offensive end."

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 12th pick?
Take the best SG available that has the athleticism and jump shot to be a player in this league. If that player is not available take Blair (Grandmama II).

[Paydro70]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Obviously I agree with everyone else that different drafting or personnel moves might have worked, but to go a different direction, we could have never played Adam Morrison for even one minute, and I would have liked better end-game plays than letting Ray fling something at the rim.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
As others have said, it was definitely on the defensive end.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
I will echo others again to say Boris Diaw. I was initially opposed to the trade because he only had one season where he would have justified the trade, but as it turns out, that actually was the Diaw we were getting. I am thrilled to have been wrong about him and that we are getting peak Diaw. I also thought Bell proved he could still play great D, which was a little doubtful in december.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Pretty much everybody on the bench I expected more from. Mohammed was bad, Carroll was awful, Ammo was horrific again, Vlad was replacement-level, Ajinca showed nothing...

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Tough call. I trust Larry Brown to do what's best for Larry Brown, and in that sense I don't think we're going to make any colossal blunders, but I have very little faith they're going to do something bold and creative and make us into a contender.

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
As others have said, it's obviously SG. Bell is old and limited, it stands as clearly our worst position. Otherwise, I'd say we could use a good scoring PF.

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 12th pick?
I would love it if one of the following fell to us (in order): Evans, Harden, Derozan, T.Williams. Or a steal of Hill I guess.

[Elden Payton]

1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
I'll go with everyone else & say the JRich trade before the season starts.

2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
They are a well coached & well drilled unit who have reacted well to a coach who has a reputation as a disciplinarian.

3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Bo Diaw- he has proven that he can be the go-to guy for offense, his defense is better than i thought too.

4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Felton! I thought he would improve greatly

5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Not really until we start making a few trades to get more involved in the draft or draft a player who is decent..haha..

6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
I honestly think that a PF is more important than a shooting guard (unless we can trade to get Harden at #4)

7. Who would you like your team to select with the 12th pick?
Dejuan Blair- He will be better than advertised and a perfect fit on our team.

[APerna]

Thanks gang, we will get this up soon!