MJ & The Draft.

[DY_nasty]

So far into our offseason, we've got 4 plain to see situations that will have a significant effect on our team for next year.

1) Failton
2) Tyrus Bombus
3) Larry "Next Town" Brown
4) MJ's willingness to purchase a 1st round pick this year. Up til now, all we've heard from MJ is about how he's all about winning in Charlotte and building a team that the city can rally around AS WELL AS how he's not cool with going over the cap. The TT/Felton situations this offseason really are out of his control to an extent, but if he's really about winning then he should be thinking of ways to get back into the draft this year. Its easy to see that getting better players through free agency this year is going to be hard to say the least and making trades without giving away core players (read "Gerald Wallace") isn't exactly likely either.

The best way to prove to everyone that he's all about winning is simple: Buy back into the draft. If he doesn't, then quite frankly I'd lose a bit of respect for him as an owner.

Anyone else share the same opinion?

[Paydro70]

Not that I wouldn't like to see someone else spend their money to make my favorite team better, but I don't really see this as a big deal either way. You don't buy a pick higher than 20, which means you're getting a completely dice roll of a player who probably isn't going to work out. So what's the big deal, is that really going to reshape our franchise? Hardly... so the more pressing question is whether it's time to blow the team up, and if so, how to go about doing that.

[DY_nasty]

"Blowing up the team" would happen on its own in 2-3 years because of contract situations alone. We couldn't "blow up" this team even if we wanted to. We give Crash away to the highest bidder of course, but few would line up to take Jack, maybe someone would entertain a 2nd rounder for DJ, and hardly anyone would even bother to call for anyone else on the team. This is hardly a Wizards situation where there are huge, long-term contracts that must be moved in order to move forward in a different direction. There'd be no point to it. We'd simply end up in the same spot a little bit sooner with fewer options.

I don't want anyone to think that I'm asking MJ to buy his way into the lottery either. Just as you said, a late first round pick. Even then, a late first round pick would not only mean a positive addition to the team, it would mean a positive addition to the team thats NOT some over the hill veteran/another team's throwaway/ a league journeyman. Its 3-4 years of a player that has nowhere to go but up and restricted fa right after.

[BigSlam]

I thought this thread was going to be more about MJ kicking himself last night that the Wiz landed that #1 pick. I bet MJ would have liked having this years prospects in the draft back in 2001!!

[Tupik]

Well, I would like this idea if LB wasn't our coach. If he comes back, I don't see why we should spend to get in the draft since the rookies don't play.

[August Us Seazr]

Nothing disrespectful to Larry Brown, but we ARE going to have some adjusting to do after all the wheeling and dealing last year. Can someone tell me HOW MANY draft picks we will have in 2010, 2011, and 2012? I can't.

In some ways, I'm very conflicted. I'm grateful that LB brought the playoffs to the Bobcats. But I'm terribly concerned that he will be leaving now that he's cleaned the coffers of draft picks for the immediate future. We have helped to stroke his ego, now we will be left to pay the freight while he enjoys a cushy front office job in Philly. Oh, well. Such is the luck of this franchise!

[Walt Cronkite]

Et tu, Seazr?

[BigSlam]

HE'S BACK!!!!!

[fatlever]

AUGUST!!!!!!!

[chrbal]

we shouldn't get back into the draft unless its a via a player for player trade. Buying a pick this season makes no sense.

[DY_nasty]

When does buying a pick ever NOT make sense? Rajon Rondo was a player who was essentially 'bought' through the draft.

Also, how is giving up a player for a pick a better move than giving up cash for a pick?

[BigSlam]

Also, how is giving up a player for a pick a better move than giving up cash for a pick?

Adding a pick for cash adds to your salary cap.

Adding a pick for a player potentially reduces it.

[DY_nasty]

Also, how is giving up a player for a pick a better move than giving up cash for a pick?

Adding a pick for cash adds to your salary cap.

Adding a pick for a player potentially reduces it.

That'd usually require a good player. I've long ago given up all hope that we'd be able to movie Diop or even Diaw. And if we're not moving those two, that leaves leaves Tyrus as the only really feasible trading piece. Tyrus essentially is our draft pick this year (or Alexis this year and Tyrus next year, w/e) and giving him up would require us getting something in the lottery for it to be worth entertaining on our side.

Also, whats another 1-1.5 mil per to our cap situation anyways? Odds are we're going to need another pg or pf (maybe both) by the time free agency is up.

[August Us Seazr]

Walt, I am conflicted. I want our team to do well. But with all this "play the right way" stuff going on, it creates within me the conflict of "We're giving it all for the fans now-" vs. "Man, are we going to pay BIG TIME for two years of good." It's a tough conflict. I love this team. I just want it to last for its proper cycle, not a two year and then burnout accident. But this is my internal conflict. I'll try to resolve it somehow.

I want all of you to know that I respect all your opinions and I'm not going to turn nasty on someone just because he thinks differently on the matter. Every one of us has the right to our own opinion. It's just that I see this team on a steep, icy slope- UNLESS we become one of those teams in the luxtax range, which MJ doesn't want. (I don't either!!!!!!!!!) Wasn't there some ancient Chinese proverb about biting the bullet too hard? Result- kablooey!!!!

Just remember, this is my INTERNAL conflict. We can only have it one way. That's the problem...and its a doozy!

[Bassman]

:D Walt, I am conflicted. I want our team to do well. But with all this "play the right way" stuff going on, it creates within me the conflict of "We're giving it all for the fans now-" vs. "Man, are we going to pay BIG TIME for two years of good." It's a tough conflict. I love this team. I just want it to last for its proper cycle, not a two year and then burnout accident. But this is my internal conflict. I'll try to resolve it somehow.

I want all of you to know that I respect all your opinions and I'm not going to turn nasty on someone just because he thinks differently on the matter. Every one of us has the right to our own opinion. It's just that I see this team on a steep, icy slope- UNLESS we become one of those teams in the luxtax range, which MJ doesn't want.

Great to read your post August!! Hope you are doing well!

I share your concern, in that this team has limited potential to improve. I think without changes we slip back a bit this year. Then it's back to the lottery (which could be helpful with some luck) and cap space. That is the year we have to strike gold. IF our youngsters can show they can play at some level (DJ, Henderson, UPS and Ajinca), and IF we can lure a star free agent here with our cap space (Melo??) and IF we can finally land a GOOD lottery pick, I think the team can take that and our aging stars into the 2nd round of the playoffs. But, that's lots of IF's. Hope for the best ....

I'm keepin' On The Sunny Side Of Life!!

[BigSlam]

Also, how is giving up a player for a pick a better move than giving up cash for a pick?

Adding a pick for cash adds to your salary cap.

Adding a pick for a player potentially reduces it.

That'd usually require a good player. I've long ago given up all hope that we'd be able to movie Diop or even Diaw. And if we're not moving those two, that leaves leaves Tyrus as the only really feasible trading piece. Tyrus essentially is our draft pick this year (or Alexis this year and Tyrus next year, w/e) and giving him up would require us getting something in the lottery for it to be worth entertaining on our side.

I hear what you are saying, but if you add a late 1st (say #24 - the Hawks pick) you are paying around 1.1 mill (based on BJ last year). You trade Hendo for him (who will earn around 2.2 mil next year) and you trim a mill off your total cap hit.

If you are approaching the LT, cutting a salary in half in order to keep you away from the LY can be pretty appealing?

[therebirth]

Why would mj pay $3m for a draft pick just to watch him sit beside him on the bench. Do you know how frustrated mj has been with LB for not playing the young players. Go back to any interview with mj about the team and you will get your answer.

And speaking of LB, when will he make up his mind? He is holding the team hostage because I believe it will be a different team if he decides to not come back. Is he doing his usually thing where he keeps the team in limbo and makes the owner so mad they end up buying him out?

[DY_nasty]

Why would mj pay $3m for a draft pick just to watch him sit beside him on the bench. Do you know how frustrated mj has been with LB for not playing the young players. Go back to any interview with mj about the team and you will get your answer.

I understand completely. Sooner or later MJ is going to remember that he's the owner and that Larry Brown is his employee. I'm sure that he didn't intend to shake up anything more than it already was because he became the owner mid-season. However, I'm sure that MJ's more hands-on approach will ensure that younger players see the floor.

[therebirth]

This is LB for you.
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http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnis ... z0oXj3QRqe

It is very, very heartwarming indeed that Brown wishes to return to the city where his wife and children live. Never mind that he left them behind when he talked his way out of his Sixers gig for a chance to win a title with a Detroit team built by someone else. We'll take Brown at his word, that he wants to be with his family.

Here's one thought. Brown is 69 years old. He has extracted millions of dollars from NBA franchises over the last few years. If he'd like to spend time with his family, maybe he should just go ahead and do that. Retire. Make the school lunches in the morning. Take a turn driving the carpool every week.

But that's not really what this is about, of course. To understand what this is really about, follow Brown's movements over the last seven years.

In 2003, after the failure of his attempts to retool the 2001 Finals team, Brown bailed on Snider and Luukko. They let him out of his contract to take a job with the Pistons without having the good sense to ask for compensation. Brown was so instrumental in leading the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title that he was fired the very next year.

No problem. He immediately was hired to coach the New York Knicks. He was fired after one season.

But that only begins to tell the story. When the Pistons let Brown go, he had three years and $18 million remaining on his contract. He negotiated a buyout that put a reported $6 million in his pocket and allowed him to accept the Knicks' five-year, $50-million offer.

When he was fired from that job, Brown was still owed $41 million. He sued the Knicks' parent company for the full amount, plus $12 million in damages. Brown wound up getting $18.5 million in a settlement.

So he was paid nearly $25 million by the Pistons and Knicks just to go away. The Sixers got off cheap, by comparison.

[DY_nasty]

Not trying to start a Larry Brown defense brigade or anything, but he wasn't exactly 'fired' by the Pistons. Also, did you see the Knicks Roster that he had to work with? No sane person would've stayed in that situation.