MJ didnt draft Ammo - says bobcats Higgins

Post #1 » by **fatlever** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 4:19 pm

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball- ... 17902.html

Wasn't Adam Morrison Michael Jordan's pick though?
"No. From my gathering, because I wasn't here at that particular time, I thought it was Bernie Bickerstaff. …

this is something we have been debating for years. i was always under the impression that it was bernie's pick (and more specifically some of the top scouts on bernie's staff). that year they had a phone interview where they let fans call in and listen to the bobcats front office talk about the draft. i remember that when ammo's name came up there were a couple of scouts who seemed really really high on ammo. bernie seemed to defer to them on the subject.

this is not to say that MJ didnt sign off on the pick, i am sure he did. but i dont think he came in and after only 13 days in charge demanded bernie pick morrison. i think MJ put his trust in those who had been doing the scouting all year and went with their recommendation.

chrbal · Post #2 » by **chrbal** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 4:40 pm

I always kind of thought it was MJ listening to other guys. When Joe Dumars first took over the PIstons, he had to deal with Grant Hill maybe or maybe not staying. Then the draft happens, he needs a PG and local hero Mateen Cleaves is still on the board. I kind of see MJs morrison pick as similar to that. You come in blind and just pick someone who seems like a good fit based on what some other guys are saying. Who knows what MJ would've done with more time, of course that was a real **** draft.

hhvo · Post #3 » by **hhvo** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 5:10 pm

Of course Higgins would say this...

gordito · Post #4 » by **gordito** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 7:43 pm

hhvo wrote:Of course Higgins would say this...

QFT. I was either that or have his son playing in Japan next year.

countryboi · Post #5 » by **countryboi** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 7:52 pm

If I remember correctly Jordan wanted Rudy gay...but whatever it does not matter anymore Morrison is off the books and Rudy gay is a max player with a 3rd tier game and Roy is retired

captaincrunk · Post #6 » by **captaincrunk** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 8:04 pm

Makes sense, all things considered. People just assumed because he was an exec in Washington, that he was an exec here when he was an owner. Owners are not executives in this league, not usually.

SWedd523 · Post #7 » by **SWedd523** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 8:53 pm

1. I don't think Jordan had much of an impact so soon after signing on, but that won't stop people from saying "lolz MJ is a turrible GM"

2. I don't necessarily think Ammo was a bad pick at the time. The pick was praised by many at the time, it wasn't until later that his injury and confidence issues derailed his career. but, again, that won't stop people from saying "lolz MJ is a turrible GM"

Post #8 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 8:56 pm

Such a dark time in the history of our franchise. Good for Higgins to publicly dump this on Bickerstaff I guess, but the only way to develop a better rep is to build something better.

Rich4114 · Post #9 » by **Rich4114** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 8:59 pm

Picking Ammo was not Bickerstaff's worst decision here. It was passing on Chris Paul for Felton + May. That set us back a good 5-10 years.

Post #10 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:00 pm

Dark times.

HornetJail · Post #11 » by **HornetJail** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:04 pm

Rich4114 wrote:Picking Ammo was not Bickerstaff's worst decision here. It was passing on Chris Paul for Felton + May. That set us back a good 5-10 years.

We would probably be playoff contenders right now. :banghead:

SWedd523 · Post #12 » by **SWedd523** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:10 pm

As for the consistent bashing of Charlotte in regards to "draft blunders", I really don't get it.

Okafor... has shown he can be a good player
Morrison... bust
Felton... has shown he can be a good player
Biyombo... too early to tell
Augustin... has shown he can be a good player
Walker... too early to tell
Henderson... has shown can be a good player
May... bust

Two busts. But both played fairly well when healthy. May averaged 12/7 in only 24 minutes as a sophomore and Ammo was 12/3/2 as a rookie on a bad team.

In that same time span, Minnesota has picked Wesley Johnson 4th, Jonny Flynn 6th, Corey Brewer 7th, and Rashad McCants 14th.

Golden State has taken Ekpe Udoh 6th, Brandan Wright 8th, Ike Diogu 9th, Patrick O'Bryant 9th, and Anthony Randolph 14th.

just to name two. Yet the Bobcats are the only franchise in the league connected to ineptitude. The Bobcats have been dismissed, ridiculed, and/or hated since their existence for some reason

captaincrunk · Post #13 » by **captaincrunk** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:15 pm

SWedd523 wrote:As for the consistent bashing of Charlotte in regards to "draft blunders", I really don't get it.

Okafor... has shown he can be a good player
Morrison... bust
Felton... has shown he can be a good player
Biyombo... too early to tell
Augustin... has shown he can be a good player
Walker... too early to tell
Henderson... has shown can be a good player
May... bust

Two busts. But both played fairly well when healthy. May averaged 12/7 in only 24 minutes as a sophomore and Ammo was 12/3/2 as a rookie on a bad team.

In that same time span, Minnesota has picked Wesley Johnson 4th, Jonny Flynn 6th, Corey Brewer 7th, and Rashad McCants 14th.

Golden State has taken Ekpe Udoh 6th, Brandan Wright 8th, Ike Diogu 9th, Patrick O'Bryant 9th, and Anthony Randolph 14th.

just to name two. Yet the Bobcats are the only franchise in the league connected to ineptitude. The Bobcats have been dismissed, ridiculed, and/or hated since their existence for some reason

people lump in Kwame, and also like to point out the people we've passed on (Gay, CP3, Lopez, etc).

Post #14 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:16 pm

The Bobcats are NOT the only franchise in the league connected to ineptitude. We've just been owning it with the worst winning % ever.

SWedd523 · Post #15 » by **SWedd523** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:31 pm

Walt Cronkite wrote:The Bobcats are NOT the only franchise in the league connected to ineptitude. We've just been owning it with the worst winning % ever.

I should have clarified, connected to ineptitude (regarding the draft).

I don't know how many times I've seen people on the GB, other team fan sites, college basketball fan sites, etc. say

"Whoever the Bobcats pick will be a bust" or the derivative "I don't want Davis to go to Charlotte because they'll make him a bust"

"MJ will probably pick Harrison Barnes lulz"

"Charlotte is the worst drafting team evar"

or others.

captaincrunk · Post #16 » by **captaincrunk** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:33 pm

I think it's also because both Kwame and ammo ended up at the Lakers in the huge spotlight at some point, both reflecting on MJ (for no real reason, but still).

Kabookalu · Post #17 » by **Kabookalu** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:37 pm

I've been hearing rumors for years that Jordan wanted Brandon Roy. And also heard in Washington he wanted Elton Brand and not Kwame Brown, but management pushed for Brown because of marketability.

Post #18 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:41 pm

SWedd523 wrote:I should have clarified, connected to ineptitude (regarding the draft).

I don't know how many times I've seen people on the GB, other team fan sites, college basketball fan sites, etc. say

"Whoever the Bobcats pick will be a bust" or the derivative "I don't want Davis to go to Charlotte because they'll make him a bust"

"MJ will probably pick Harrison Barnes lulz"

"Charlotte is the worst drafting team evar"

or others.

Felton at 5 and Ammo at 3 were suspect picks at the time. I think the Felton/May UNC gimmick has gone a long way to make us seem like a joke as far as drafting goes. We also apparently caved to LB and took DJ when we already had an ok pg and needed a big guy, after allegedly telling Brook Lopez we were going to take him. Also we selected Ajinca with a 1st rounder.

We have a reputation as an inept team at drafting for a pretty good reason.

Rich4114 · Post #19 » by **Rich4114** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:44 pm

Yeah it's not like we've been somewhat OK at drafting so far. When in the history of our franchise you can argue Gerald Henderson has been the best drafted Bobcat ever, it means you sorta suck at drafting. We've had 9 years to collect high draft picks and have nothing to show for it. When we start making good picks with what we've got people will shut up.

Post #20 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Sat Jun 2, 2012 9:45 pm

Choker wrote:I've been hearing rumors for years that Jordan wanted Brandon Roy. And also heard in Washington he wanted Elton Brand and not Kwame Brown, but management pushed for Brown because of marketability.

I've heard MJ wanted to trade for Elton as well. The Kwame draft is an unfair condemnation of MJ's talent assessment/management, because at the time Chandler/Kwame/Curry were all seen as equal prospects that excelled at different things with Kwame being the most well rounded. Gasol wasn't on anyone's radar as a potential #1 pick.

BRoy is a new one to me. He didn't want to work out for our franchise so we didn't consider him. We've always heard MJ preferred Gay.