Jordan's state of the Team Address

[dmutombo321]

"Some highlights from Jordan’s 23-minute interview:

--He said the franchise is open to a nickname switch should New Orleans Hornets owner Tom Benson follow through on changing that team’s name. Some fans want the Hornets name and logo back in Charlotte.

--He said he told the players to stop griping about new coach Mike Dunlap’s long practices, that they need the fundamental drills he’s employed: “You can’t say we don’t need that stuff. If so, we wouldn’t be going 7-59 as a team.’’

--Jordan also said he’s advised the players, “Either you’re in or you’re not going to be here.’’

--Jordan described rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as a “connector,’’ comparing him to former Chicago Bulls teammate Scottie Pippen: “He’s a very versatile guy. He’s motivated. He loves to play and play hard.’’

--He said the Bobcats “made a couple of calls’’ about shooting guard James Harden’s availability before the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Harden to the Houston Rockets this week.

--He said co-captain Gerald Henderson “gets it. He shows signs of being a leader. These are the things we’re expecting from Gerald,’’ adding he’s “pretty sure’’ Henderson will be asking for a big raise to stay here in his next contract.

--Jordan said he still believes the Bobcats could be an attractive destination for major free agents down the road, but “I also understand we’ve got to get our house in order, to make that attractive to people.’’

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/1 ... bcats.html

[KembaWalker]

nobody on our team is good enough to be griping about any kind of practice

if you dont wanna do a bunch of boring fundamental drills, execute on the floor and show they arent needed. I'm sure Dunlap feels the same way

[Felton for Pres]

nobody on our team is good enough to be griping about any kind of practice

if you dont wanna do a bunch of boring fundamental drills, execute on the floor and show they arent needed. I'm sure Dunlap feels the same way

my thoughts exactly. they were the worst team in history...clearly they need practice.

[countryboi]

uh Mr. Jordan... why the hell is higgins jr still here?

[MPM]

Understanding that we have almost zero assets, what do you think it would have taken to pry Harden away from OKC? Detroit and Portland's pick, Walker, and Hendo?

[Nanogeek]

I doubt Bobcats could have landed Harden with the pieces we had. OKC couldn't take a huge step back when trading Harden. They needed to land immediate contributors such as Martin or otherwise their team would mutiny. You don't get to the championship last year and then give up a big piece without getting some immediate help in return. Bobcats don't have anyone that fits that bill. Perhaps if we agreed to take on Perkins contract but again the Thunder couldn't rationalize taking a bigger step back by saying they created cap flexibility a few years down the line.

[KembaWalker]

probably MKG and Kemba/Henderson and a pick

after that game last night I dunno if I wouldnt do that

[Nanogeek]

probably MKG and Kemba/Henderson and a pick

after that game last night I dunno if I wouldnt do that

Doubt OKC would go for that. MKG plays KDs position. Kemba or Henderson would be nice but neither even begin to replace the contribution Harden made. OKC had to get an immediate strong contributor in the deal. Bobcats just dont have that.

[SWedd523]

They wouldn't have much use of Walker with Westbrook, Maynor, and Jackson (if he's still on the roster). Hendo might make some sense since they'd be moving their 6th man but he's too similar to Thabo for me to do it if I were in their shoes.

MKG would be a great fit on that team to replace Thabo as the do-everything guy that would really shine on that sort of roster. Bismack would give them another big, tough guy with a lot of upside to throw at Dwight when they meet in the WCF. Mully would thrive as a pick and pop or simply spot up option. Give him an open look and he's going to drill it.

Other than that and the DET/POR picks, we don't have much to offer.

Would a Bismack + Hendo + Detroit pick have gotten it done? I dunno, maybe. Probably not

[Nanogeek]

uh Mr. Jordan... why the hell is higgins jr still here?

+1

Lets look at the Higgins debacle:

- becomes GM May 2007

- signs Matt Carroll to 6/27m contract

- exercised option on Ryan Hollins

- traded a future #1 pick to get the chance to draft Alexis Ajinca

- traded the crap contract of Matt Carroll (see above) + Ryan Hollins for the massive crap contract of Diop

- traded Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor (actually a good trade - but he then squandered it - see below)

- traded a future lottery pick more than likely for Tyrus Thomas

- traded Chandler for Dampier's contract, Carroll's crap contract and Najera's crap contract

- traded Gerald Wallace for cap relief and two future first rounders (one was Tobias Harris [also known as nothing] and likely a mid-teens pick in 2013-15.

I dont have the strength to go through the rest of it.

This guy is crap and needs to go.

The Tyson trade was a debacle. We effectively sold our inaugural draft pick for nothing. We picked Okafor at #2, traded Okafor to Chandler, and then traded Chandler for Dampier (which we then cut) + Carroll (so we got back a crap contract and still had Diop!) + Najera. And we did that to correct earlier salary cap debacles (the Hollins/Carroll for Diop trade among others).

[Nanogeek]

MKG would be a great fit on that team to replace Thabo as the do-everything guy that would really shine on that sort of roster. Bismack would give them another big, tough guy with a lot of upside to throw at Dwight when they meet in the WCF. Mully would thrive as a pick and pop or simply spot up option. Give him an open look and he's going to drill it.

Other than that and the DET/POR picks, we don't have much to offer.

Would a Bismack + Hendo + Detroit pick have gotten it done? I dunno, maybe. Probably not

MKG wouldn't replace Thabo because they play different positions.

Bismack is a poor man's Ibaka. How many all defense, nothing else big men can a team support?

I reiterate - OKC had to replace Harden with an immediate substantial contributor. Bobcats dont have such a player.

[SWedd523]

traded Gerald Wallace for cap relief and two future first rounders (one was Tobias Harris [also known as nothing] and likely a mid-teens pick in 2013-15.

I think you mean one was Tobias Harris (also known as Bismack Biyombo)

MKG wouldn't replace Thabo because they play different positions.

Bismack is a poor man's Ibaka. How many all defense, nothing else big men can a team support?

I reiterate - OKC had to replace Harden with an immediate substantial contributor. Bobcats dont have such a player.

You'd have to be naive to think MKG couldn't play SG in that, or any, lineup. He would thrive as the connector between Westbrook and Durant.

A team fielding two guys that can go off for 30+ on a nightly basis and requires nothing more from their big man than strong defense and the occasional garbage bucket can support all the all defense, nothing else big men they want. Guess what, OKC is one of them.

[fatlever]

guy, make sure you go and read the entire interview between MJ and bonnell. there is a lot of stuff to read and discuss.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/1 ... ordan.html

[Nanogeek]

You'd have to be naive to think MKG couldn't play SG in that, or any, lineup. He would thrive as the connector between Westbrook and Durant.

Or be familiar with MKG's game. No reliable outside shot. Struggled to guard quicker, agile players in college (which would look like wheelchair bound players compared to NBA 2s). I know this whole "connector" thing is the new fad but do you honestly think the Thunder need to blow a whole position just to "connect" Durant and/or Westbrook?

A team fielding two guys that can go off for 30+ on a nightly basis and requires nothing more from their big man than strong defense and the occasional garbage bucket can support all the all defense, nothing else big men they want. Guess what, OKC is one of them.

Hardly - Ibaka played sparse minutes in the NBA finals. They need something more than a long armed, gambling shot blocker - which is what Ibaka and Biyombo are. And they certainly don't need two of them.

[fatlever]

i am dying to know which players were a) complaining that the instruction heavy practices were beneath them and b) complaining about 3-4 hour practices. my initial gut says diop, thomas, reggie, haywood and sessions, but that is a complete guess.

[fatlever]

scott_fowler ‏@scott_fowler

Michael Jordan also told Observer he considers Bobcats a family business and that his sons and brother will//are involved.

oh dear

[countryboi]

scott_fowler ‏@scott_fowler

Michael Jordan also told Observer he considers Bobcats a family business and that his sons and brother will//are involved.

oh dear

God help us all.

[vorbis]

looking forward to getting the name-changing business behind me/us/Charlotte, one way or another. such a dumb thing to have hanging over a franchise. talk about "getting your house in order."

[Diop]

Yeah but to keep it in the family he's going to change the name to the Charlotte Marcus Jeffrey Jasmine's.

[Diop]

i am dying to know which players were a) complaining that the instruction heavy practices were beneath them and b) complaining about 3-4 hour practices. my initial gut says diop, thomas, reggie, haywood and sessions, but that is a complete guess.

So all veterans not named Carroll? You think BG wouldn't complain?