MJ strikes again? (Terrance Williams to Charlotte signs)

[BigSlam]

If I was you I'd be more worried about what you guys are doing with the #9. I mean, James Johnson is a nice player, but at #9??

No need to. BC drafts pretty well. Much better than Charlotte Bobcats GM's

When have the Bobcats ever reached for anyone? There has been nothing wrong with the way our front office has drafted.

Okafor was a great pick.
Felton and May were both great picks.
Ammo was a great pick.
DJ was a great pick.

The only problem is that May has been injured forever and Ammo ended up being a bust - but it's not like they were selected any higher than they were projected to be drafted.

Hindsight is one thing, but as far as drafting at the time, very few - if any - teams would have done it any differently if they were in the same situation.

[Cammo101]

I wonder if Charlotte will ever learn that taking the best college player rarely works out. They seem to have learned nothing from Morrison, May, Dudley, Felton...

[Cammo101]

If I was you I'd be more worried about what you guys are doing with the #9. I mean, James Johnson is a nice player, but at #9??

No need to. BC drafts pretty well. Much better than Charlotte Bobcats GM's

When have the Bobcats ever reached for anyone? There has been nothing wrong with the way our front office has drafted.

Okafor was a great pick.
Felton and May were both great picks.
Ammo was a great pick.
DJ was a great pick.

The only problem is that May has been injured forever and Ammo ended up being a bust - but it's not like they were selected any higher than they were projected to be drafted.

Hindsight is one thing, but as far as drafting at the time, very few - if any - teams would have done it any differently if they were in the same situation.

May was a terrible pick and most knew it before the pick happened. Morrison was an ok pick, but there were better prospects available. Dudley was a huge reach who you seem to have conveniently left off this list.

The rest I have no problem with.

[amcoolio]

Not to mention, what pick has BC made that was considered a great pick.

BC reached for Bargnani, they could have traded down to the 5th or 6th spot, got a lot of valuable value, and still selected Andrea. No one was taking him besides Toronto.

I guess you have to go back to his early Phoenix days.

[Jonathan Watters]

I just don't know about Williams. Almost every NBA roleplayer was a dominant scorer as a senior in college, or would have been if they hadn't left early. Especially at the wing position. If he can fix his shot he's a great pick, but his inability to score is a serious problem.

[Gruel]

Bargnani is starting to look like the second best player of the draft. When he was drafted, BC stated it would take roughly 3-5 years for Bargnani to make a serious impact. He also stated that he knew Roy would win the ROY. So, it doesn't look like he's a reach at all. BC has drafted Marion, Amare, Finley, Stephen Jackson... what about the Bobcats?

[amcoolio]

Bargnani is starting to look like the second best player of the draft. When he was drafted, BC stated it would take roughly 3-5 years for Bargnani to make a serious impact. He also stated that he knew Roy would win the ROY. So, it doesn't look like he's a reach at all. BC has drafted Marion, Amare, Finley, Stephen Jackson... what about the Bobcats?

Even if he is looking like the 2nd best player, which he clearly isn't.... Its still a reach. No other team had their eyes on him, and Bargnani wasn't the clear cut #1. He was in the 5-10 range.

And I also acknowledged his early Phoenix days, but thats a decade ago. Even most Toronto fans are unhappy with BC's GM'ing as of late.

[Cammo101]

I just don't know about Williams. Almost every NBA roleplayer was a dominant scorer as a senior in college, or would have been if they hadn't left early. Especially at the wing position. If he can fix his shot he's a great pick, but his inability to score is a serious problem.

I think Williams is a role player at best, just like I have though about every other limited upside player the Bobcats have taken year after year.

They sure love them some proven college stars.

[Cammo101]

Bargnani is starting to look like the second best player of the draft.

Rudy Gay
LaMarcus Aldridge
Brandon Roy
Rajon Rondo

You were saying?

[Dr Positivity]

Why would you think he is a reach at 12? Because "We're 3 months too late" nbadraft.net has him at 22?

He's a reach at 12 because he's a senior who has no game. He might be a solid 7th-8th because he plays hard but unless this draft is really that bad you usually look for those guys in the 20s, not 12

When you say, "who has no game", I take it you mean, "Defense?! Passing?! We don't need no stinkin' passing and defense! Basketball is all bout scoring! Buckets, buckets, buckets! Let it rainnnnnnn!"?

Huh I already said Henderson is the most logical choice if the Bobcats are presumably going to pick a young SG to replace Bell who can defend and contribute immediately. The reason I think the Bobcats or anyone ranking Williams over Henderson is nuts is that Henderson will provide everything Williams does on the defensive end while being far/leagues ahead of him in offensive skills... and being a junior who has more room to grow.

The only thing I see Williams having that Henderson doesn't give you as well is rebounding, which is next to irrelevant for guards... the passing won't matter considering he'll be handling the ball about as much as Ariza does, and while he got the assists in Louisville's system, he wasn't really the same type of facilatator/creator as a Roy or Harden for example. I can see the reasoning of someone stretching for Williams out of need for a defensive SG at 15 or 16, but I can't see how anyone would consider him superior to Henderson if given the choice

[vincecarter4pres]

When have the Bobcats ever reached for anyone? There has been nothing wrong with the way our front office has drafted.

Okafor was a great pick.
Felton and May were both great picks.
Ammo was a great pick.
DJ was a great pick.

The only problem is that May has been injured forever and Ammo ended up being a bust - but it's not like they were selected any higher than they were projected to be drafted.

Hindsight is one thing, but as far as drafting at the time, very few - if any - teams would have done it any differently if they were in the same situation.

Slam, you know you're my boy right?
I'm just saying...

Okafor was a great pick, I will agree. A no brainer, but yes a great pick.
Felton was not a great pick, he was definitely a good pick though.
Sean May was a horrific pick, on par with Atlanta's Shelden Williams pick, well I'm exxagerating for sure, but he was a truly terrible pick for sure.
I am hoping you are just joking about the Ammo pick?
Honestly, I mean seriously, I mean sincerely, like 90% of the basketball world did one of these when Charlotte drafted Ammo:


DJ was a great pick, but NJ fans worldwide(Wait, am I really claiming there are Nets fans outside this country, let alone outside the state of New Jersey? I really am hitting the sauce too much) are in your debt forever.

[amcoolio]

I just don't know about Williams. Almost every NBA roleplayer was a dominant scorer as a senior in college, or would have been if they hadn't left early. Especially at the wing position. If he can fix his shot he's a great pick, but his inability to score is a serious problem.

I think Williams is a role player at best, just like I have though about every other limited upside player the Bobcats have taken year after year.

They sure love them some proven college stars.

Okafor was clearly the 2nd best BPA after Orlando chose.

Felton was clearly the next BPA after Paul, Marvin, Bogut, and Deron were off the board. Charlotte even made it known that they were selecting a PG, and had Paul, Deron, and Felton together in a special workout. Both Paul and Deron were proven college stars as well, and Charlotte lost out on both of em because of a coin flip. And no franchise would have traded two lottery picks to move up a spot or two, because the actual talent difference between the three didn't allow for it at the time. Now? Obviously we would have traded up, but no one knew how great Deron and Paul would be.

May at 13? Better than the busts we were going to select (Wright, Green, Graham = all busts, worse than May.) Granger? Lots of teams passed him, not just the Bobcats, and he had supposed knee issues, and was also a college star.

Morrison at 3, yeah that was a bust pick, but Gay and Roy were college stars as well. Roy said he would boycott if Cha selected him and Gay was so similar to Wallace we didn't take him. Charlotte also really needed offense. But Morrison was projected top 5 by everyone.

Dudley at 18 or wherever - good value, terrible system for him to be in Phoenix....can be valuable contributer off the bench. Solid D. Not really a college star. Traded for two starters, fine with that.

Augustin at 9 - elite shooter for a rookie, smart player...will develop into a special PG when he works on defensive skills. Lopez can't play with Okafor. Augustin less of a star than Lopez.

Ajinca at 20 - obviously not a college star....clear project.

[Cammo101]

Charlotte is not the worst drafting team in the world, but their desire to take college winners with limited upsides have killed them.

If I were the GM of the Bobcats they would have had Okafor, Felton, Granger, Gay or Roy, and Brook Lopez. That is not revisionist history either, I have my draft rankings on my site for all to see. This is not to toot my own horn, plenty of other draft sites had the players rated similarly.

But, while I look for the best prospect, Charlotte was looking for the college winners with intangibles.

[amcoolio]

Everyone had Granger in the top 10...why did he fall so low then? Especially when lots of players with the same build (Wright, Graham, Green) went before him?

[Cammo101]

Everyone had Granger in the top 10...why did he fall so low then? Especially when lots of players with the same build (Wright, Graham, Green) went before him?

Because too many people over think the draft. Every year a guy like that falls, it is the smart GMs job to draft them.

[vincecarter4pres]

I actually like Augustin a lot and think he is going to be a hell of a point guard as long as he stays relatively injury free, but I just can't agree when people say Lopez couldn't/can't start next to Okafor. Hell, Charlotte has publicly voiced for a couple seasons now that they wanted to get a legit center to start next to Okafor, moving him to the PF spot.
Okafor and Lopez would have formed an absolutely scary defensive frontcourt, especially paired up with Crash at the 3. Then trade for a scoring 2, maybe even have kept J Rich unless it was more of an off the court issue thing then was let to be none and they would have had a really formidable lineup for the present and the future.
I mean I still think they should be pretty good, but I still don't know they have a very good shot of even making the playoffs this season.
I really think the Nets will make the playoffs this year and I say that in unbiased honesty aside from my homer views of my team.
So basically they take Detroits spot, cause Detroit ain't sniffing the post season this year.
So who's spot does Charlotte take?
I mean I could easily see Philly missing the playoffs, but Washington almost definitely will make it this year barring another season of unfathomable injuries.
Maybe Atlanta will miss if they let Williams walk and Bibby goes elsewhere and they aren't able to find real deal replacements.
I mean honestly, only 3 teams in the East are truly guaranteed a spot, but I am just saying it will be very tough for them to make it and they will likely be in a real dog fight with about 6 teams competing for the final 2 or 3 spots. I have no doubts they will be right there, but barring some catastrophic injuries to key players on a few other teams I think they are on the outside looking in again, resulting in a lame lotto pick yet again.

[CatNation]

MJs drafting history with the Bobcats, while obviously not perfect, has been pretty solid imo. All our picks have fit our needs. Bad luck with May and Morrison injuries. MJ has done a respectable job building a team in a city that has never been a free agent destination in ANY sport.

Bobcats have to go the Panthers route, improving the players we have, rather than just signing or trading for a superstar. it doesnt work as well in basketball, but thats why we hired a top 5 coach of all time

[LyNx]

May at 13? Better than the busts we were going to select (Wright, Green, Graham = all busts, worse than May.) Granger? Lots of teams passed him, not just the Bobcats, and he had supposed knee issues, and was also a college star.

Are you serious? All of those guys have had about as good if not better showings than May in this league. It took this guy three seasons just to play 82 games and his most recent season resulted in an average of four points. You can't say that was a good pick.

I bet you any of Green, Graham or Wright could have had better showings on the Bobcats this past year.

[Paydro70]

I think the point that Slam was trying to make is that AT THE TIME the Bobcats' picks have all been defensible. No one should be claiming that the Bobcats are a good drafting team, because obviously they are not; Ammo is a total bust, May is an injury/fatness bust, Ray is iffy for a #5. But none of their picks were far out of the range the player was supposed to be taken, which is what we mean by "reach."

You may think Williams is a bad pick, and maybe he is. But if the Cats take him it won't be a "reach."

[amcoolio]

May at 13? Better than the busts we were going to select (Wright, Green, Graham = all busts, worse than May.) Granger? Lots of teams passed him, not just the Bobcats, and he had supposed knee issues, and was also a college star.

Are you serious? All of those guys have had about as good if not better showings than May in this league. It took this guy three seasons just to play 82 games and his most recent season resulted in an average of four points. You can't say that was a good pick.

I bet you any of Green, Graham or Wright could have had better showings on the Bobcats this past year.

This past year, obviously, because May was hurt/fat and in LB's doghouse. May has better talent than all 3 of them, thats not even a question. Green has been out of the league and back in, Wright has been on multiple teams, and Graham is only sticking in Toronto because the Raptors SG/SF rotation is one of the worst athletic groups in the league. All three are extremely mediocre wing players who probably should only be used in the 10th man spot. May? Probably deserves that spot as well but his issue isn't talent. When he has suited up and gotten minutes for the Bobcats, he can drop 18/8 and make an impact on the game. I have never, ever heard of Graham, Green, or Wright make an impact on the game.