My first try at offseason 2009

[Bizz]

After the best season in team history I don't think our team needs too many changes. Bobcats played around .500 after the Richardson trade which is enough for the playoffs in the east most of the time. That is why I think we should keep our core together including Felton. But whaching this years playoffs and seeing what Houston was able to achive made me realise that without a superstar we need a though defensive team, that just outhustles everybody. So here is my first try at Bobcats offseason:

Draft:
#12 Dejuan Blair
Why?

Well to anyone who is watching this years playoffs this pick shouldn't need no explanation. Blair is a beast, he is the kind of player you need come playoff time when the game slows down and becomes fisical. He is a great rebounder which usually translates in the NBA. He is short but has a wingspan of 7'2 which allows him to play much bigger opponents. He also compliments Diaw well since Boris is more of a skill over power kind of player. Also him and Ajinca should make a nice big man combo for the future.

2nd round Emir Preldzić
Why?

I haven't seen or read much about potential 2nd round picks. Emir is my countrymen so at least I know how he plays. He is a do it all smallfoward in Torkoglu/Kukoc mode but has strugled as of late. The point of this pick is to stash him in europe and hope he can develope someday, because we don't need more rookies playing.

Trades:

Charlotte trades:
Nazr Muhammed

NOH trades:
Moris Petterson

Why?

Nazr wants out, we don't need him, nobody wants to take him of our hands and there is a logjam at his position. This is basically a trade of one veteran who is buried on the bench for another. Petterson has fallen out of the rotation in NO just like Nazr here. NO could use a centre and we could use a SF/SG that plays defense and can hit a three. Plus their contracts are almost identical. Petterson could be a sort of insurance if one of our SGs or SFs get injured. He could provide some toughness and defense.

FAs:
Re-sing Raymond Felton to a 3 year 21 million contract

Felton needs to come back. In my opinion he has improved in one year under Larry and he will again if given a chance. He is a though and strong for a PG and has a potential to develop into a top defender at PG under LB. Plus he hasn't missed more than 4 games in a season, can guard twos ect., ect. If we let Felton go he will be really hard to replace especially because we don't have so many trading chips that could net us a player of his caliber.

Now why 3 year 21 million

I think that 7 million a season is a fair deal for Felton. That is around where Nelson and Calderon earn. The key is three years. Singing Felton for three years is good for all sides. Felton knows that in this economy he won't get too much money and if he sings a long term deal it would be the biggest in his career probably. But if he resings for 3 years he could go for another big contract later when economy will be better and teams will not save money for 2010 offseason. For Charlotte 3 years is perfect since in 3 years DJs contract is up and by that time we will kow who is the player to trust PG spot to.

Sing Dahntay Jones 4 years 15 million
We are still in need of a backup SG and Jones is an ultimate Brown player. Another player who can play defense and scor when needed.

Resing Juwan Howard for the minimum to play the same role he did this year.

Let May go we wasted enough on him already.

This would give us a lineup of:
C Okafor/Diop/Ajinca
PF Diaw/Blair/Howard
SF Wallace/Radmanović/Petterson
SG Bell/Jones
PG Felton/Augustin

I can see us making Playoffs with this lineup. We can go after a superstar next year when Petterson and Radmanović will be expireing.

[fatlever]

i like all of your reasoning. very well thought out and very realistic.

getting peterson for nazr would be huge. nazr still has skills. its not like he is a complete waste. he would help the hornets for sure.

adding peterson and jones immediately takes care of our wing depth.

stashing a euro away for a year is a good move.

i like blair for this team.

this would be a great offseason imo.

[fatlever]

i would even give up one of our second round picks (even the better one) to do that nazr for peterson deal.

[spectre_]

i would even give up one of our second round picks (even the better one) to do that nazr for peterson deal.

Do you like that idea? Undoubtably some NOLA fans have been talking about that swap as I've seen it in two different trade ideas on the Trade Board.

I don't know how much MoPete has left in the tank, but at least he plays a position of need (and he's about 1 million cheaper).

[fatlever]

yeah, i think peterson could help us next year. he can still shoot and is able to play both sg and sf.

i think is a win win for both teams.

[WaydownSouth]

I love the Mo-Pete for Nazr trade.... I'd do that in a second.

I'm not sure of stashing a Euro player overseas. It's not like we have the Spurs scouting staff working for the Cats.

For some reason and I should probably punch myself in the head for it, but I'd like to have a look at Josh Heyvelt with the second.

I did see on hoopshype that BJ Mullens has sniffed paint thinners again. Has a game like Amare, KG and Dirk... I hope the Cats don't watch that video and see him hitting those outside jumpers... Late 1st, but not the 12th..

http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/videos ... -or-amare/

[Elden Payton]

this would be a very successful offseason IMO.. very well thought at and I am keen for Blair at 12.. he will be a beast.. Mo-Pete yes Please.. very classy vet..

[WaydownSouth]

I just want Mo-Pete so I can watch him love tap Vince Carter again and get ejected...