The Charlotte Bobcats' quest for a center took a turn for the bizarre this afternoon, with word leaking out from several Internet sources that they were close to a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It seems the Los Angeles Clippers are insistent on seeing how the new front line combination of Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby, and Zach Randolph might pan out before considering moving one of them. Read that to mean the Clippers don't have a lot of confidence in Camby's ability to stay healthy.
What it means for the Bobcats is that they're going to have to find their center solution somewhere else, and the rumor of the day today has that solution lying in Minnesota. According to various reports, the Bobcats and Timberwolves are discussing a trade that would send Raymond Felton to the Wolves for - get this - Rashad McCants, Jason Collins, and a pick.
If there turns out to be any truth to this rumor, someone get Webster on the phone because we'll have to change the definition for the word "desperate." McCants, though a UNC product, has played himself right out of the rotation in Minnesota, and if you think Jason Collins is some kind of solution to Charlotte's center vacancy, think again. He makes Nazr Mohammed look like Hakeem Olajuwon on the offensive end.
On the flip side, of course, this would be a brilliant move for the Timberwolves. Felton would be a fantastic fit in their back court, where he would allow Sebastian Telfair to assume the more realistic role of backup point guard, and could help make up for the absence of Corey Brewer. In fact, Felton just might be the piece that makes Minnesota a playoff team. It's early, but the West certainly isn't panning out to be as competitive as it was last season.
Stay tuned to HOOPSWORLD for more on this potential trade.
OK, poopsworld should be smart enough to know that this trade doesn't even come close to salary matching. Maybe
McCants + Collins + Ollie for Felton + May + Dwayne Jones?
This would all be expirings, with a swap of RFA's. We'd be back to being without a center.
