Kemba has looked great tonight

[Gurleyman]

Just hasn't shown in the stats. He missed a few good mid-range looks and his teammates have not made any of the open looks he's given them or he'd be chasing another triple-double (he has 10, 6 and 6). The Bobbies tried starting Tyrus Thomas at the 3, which is absurd.

I think Kemba has really one made one mistake - a poor hit-ahead pass on the break that was stolen. Right decision, but he left the pass short. Other than that he's run everything well, gotten good looks for himself and set up others unguarded.

And the Bobcats have been run out of the gym.

 

[hungry husky]

The fact that Charlotte picked Biyombo instead of finding a better fit or trading the pick probably didn't help Kemba. He's already the best or 2nd best player on their team. He needs a running mate so he can start playing off the ball like he did in college.

 

[defaultroute]

Right now that's looking like Henderson or Diaw or Mullens.

 

[Kitaman]

We should preface his name with 'Rookie'. As a rookie he is playing real good considering the circumstances surrounding the pre-season and the team he's playing for.

In two years you will see the collegiate Kemba game in and game out, providing Charlotte makes some moves.

 

[caw]

The fact that Charlotte picked Biyombo instead of finding a better fit or trading the pick probably didn't help Kemba. He's already the best or 2nd best player on their team. He needs a running mate so he can start playing off the ball like he did in college.

Biyombo has the potential to be a defensive monster and is supposedly only 18 years old. He honestly has looked pretty solid defensively all things considered.

I'm not sure Kemba needs to play off the ball, he does need someone else of NBA quality on the floor with him to hit shots though. In five games as the starting PG he is averaging 15 pts, 5 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal. Those are pretty good numbers and the assists would be higher if his teammates hit some of the open shots he set up for them. His shooting percentages inside the arc are not good though, he is missing a lot of shots he made last year. His 3PT shot has been decent but nothing to write home about.

 

[61cygni]

He has looked ok in other games, but Biyombo looked awful against the Lakers. No rebounds in 14 minutes?

 

[tykurez]

...providing Charlotte makes some moves.

That's the key. Charlotte is an awful organization so I wouldn't get your hopes up. Perhaps with MJ they can make some moves ... but as a whole that team has been mismanaged and misaligned since expansion.

 

[caw]

That's the key. Charlotte is an awful organization so I wouldn't get your hopes up. Perhaps with MJ they can make some moves ... but as a whole that team has been mismanaged and misaligned since expansion.

They also have very few assets to trade, or at least assets that would bring anything back. Not including players on rookie contracts:

DJ Augustin
Thomas
Maggette may be a trade piece next year as an expiring contract.
Diaw

That's really all they have to offer any other team via trade. They really need to get a lucky bounce and get a top 2 pick, top 1 preferably. Really though they would be OK with any top 5 pick, luckily they can't mess it up on a PG.

They would do well to get another first rounder this draft or two and offload Diaw or Thomas and Augustin.

 

[tykurez]

They also have very few assets to trade, or at least assets that would bring anything back. Not including players on rookie contracts:

DJ Augustin
Thomas
Maggette may be a trade piece next year as an expiring contract.
Diaw

That's really all they have to offer any other team via trade. They really need to get a lucky bounce and get a top 2 pick, top 1 preferably. Really though they would be OK with any top 5 pick, luckily they can't mess it up on a PG.

They would do well to get another first rounder this draft or two and offload Diaw or Thomas and Augustin.

Yea, unfortunately the outlook is bleak ... they've drafted poorly and when they do draft someone with promise, they have seemed to mismanage them.

 

[Gurleyman]

They need Biyombo to develop a little for some low post presence. Bynum and Gasol just slaughtered them on the low block - Mullens, Diaw and Diop can't guard anyone (maybe Diop is ok on a different day, but he got abused last night). Kobe went off, but Henderson isn't terrible defensively at the 2 - just one of those days Kobe had it going.

The way they are going, they won't draft any lower than fourth, so they should get some offensive help in. Although if they get in a spot where they take Davis or Drummond as the best player available, they'll have another raw big man who would be somewhat redundant with Biyombo (although Davis can step outside a little more and would maybe be a better fit). Barnes makes some sense for them (I was originally more skeptical of Barnes' NBA prospects, but having watched him a couple times, he has evolved enough of a well-rounded offensive game that he can slot into the 3 spot as a solid weapon). Tyrus Thomas at the 3 is a disaster, and Maggette is in the twilight of his career. But they also just need assets - and I could see a situation where Drummond is the best asset available at their spot and they take him and let he and Biyombo play together, or battle for minutes, and then eventually deal one of them.

Unless Drummond stays in college, of course.

 

[caw]

If I'm the Bobcats I try to dump everyone not named Kemba and Bismark for as many picks as I can get in the 2012 and 2013 drafts, then play Kemba and Bismark as many minutes as they can deal with.

Augustin should be able to net them a decent pick with the weak PG draft

Magette may actually be a trade asset next year, when he is an expiring.

Diaw probably can't be traded, but shop him around and see if anyone will trade a few draft picks (second rounders?).

They are already the worst team in the NBA, why not go all out and stink in hopes of getting a few decent picks in return. They should have the Portland pick next year (2013) as well as their own (unless they are not in the bottom 12, then it goes to Chicago).

 

[hungry husky]

You get what you spend, just look at the Lakers, Heat, Mavs, Bulls.

 

[Kitaman]

You get what you spend, just look at the Lakers, Heat, Mavs, Bulls.

Yeah but those teams have strong foundations that they were able to build on for years. They had trade bait and fan income from fielding HOFers. They are the elite right now in terms of NBA programs, Charlotte has no foundation or money to work with. Its sad actually and they are not alone. Only savvy/smart draft picks will get them there and avoid raw projects who are not ready to contribute.

 

[caw]

You get what you spend, just look at the Lakers, Heat, Mavs, Bulls.

Some teams can't attract top talent free agents even if they overspend. Charlotte is never getting a top free agent that they have not previous drafted no matter how much money they throw at them.

Charlotte needs to model itself after Portland/Milwaukee (Ray/Big Dog)/Oklahoma type teams and build through the draft then hope to get an extra piece or two through smart trades (Pippen/Cassell/Perkins for the above three teams). Fortunately, the GM of Charlotte actually should know this considering he was the assistant GM for the Oklahoma Thunder when the Durant teams were being put together.

 

[hungry husky]

Some teams can't attract top talent free agents even if they overspend. Charlotte is never getting a top free agent that they have not previous drafted no matter how much money they throw at them.

Charlotte needs to model itself after Portland/Milwaukee (Ray/Big Dog)/Oklahoma type teams and build through the draft then hope to get an extra piece or two through smart trades (Pippen/Cassell/Perkins for the above three teams). Fortunately, the GM of Charlotte actually should know this considering he was the assistant GM for the Oklahoma Thunder when the Durant teams were being put together.

I would generally agree with you but the early 2000's Kings got Chris Webber in his prime and Sacramento is an equally poor, if not worse, market than Charlotte. Also, the Nets got Jason Kidd in his prime in 2000. It's not impossible, but their GM has to stop drafting tough projects. Almost makes me wonder if Charlotte gets the No. 1 pick next year, would they consider a project like Drummond?

 

[caw]

I would generally agree with you but the early 2000's Kings got Chris Webber in his prime and Sacramento is an equally poor, if not worse, market than Charlotte. Also, the Nets got Jason Kidd in his prime in 2000. It's not impossible, but their GM has to stop drafting tough projects. Almost makes me wonder if Charlotte gets the No. 1 pick next year, would they consider a project like Drummond?

Webber was traded to Sacto for Mitch Richmond who was also a darn good player.
Jason Kidd was traded for Marbury (who was thought to be a good player)

I agree they could trade for a player that is a star, if they are willing to give up a player others view as a star.

 

[Kitaman]

I would generally agree with you but the early 2000's Kings got Chris Webber in his prime and Sacramento is an equally poor, if not worse, market than Charlotte. Also, the Nets got Jason Kidd in his prime in 2000. It's not impossible, but their GM has to stop drafting tough projects. Almost makes me wonder if Charlotte gets the No. 1 pick next year, would they consider a project like Drummond?

Drummond would be their only real trade bait. Possibly two good players or picks. Wouldn't make sense to keep him but he would be a valuable (i.e. marketable) pick.