I know what you’re thinking… Why draft another power forward with weight problems.  While we’re at it, lets make him undersized with a history of knee problems. Sounds like a great investment for our number 12 pick right? Ordinarily I wouldn’t touch that resume with a 10 foot pole, BUT take a look at this rebound versus potential top 3 pick Hasheem Thabeet…

It’s been a while (let’s make that never) since I’ve seen one of the Bobcats almost rip a players arm out of the socket going for a rebound. That rebound was a thing of beauty, Our team desperately needs someone who has the willingness to place someone squarely on their ass if the situation warrants it. Currently we have Raja Bell and… that’s about it. Blair has the beef and the attitude to be that guy.

Take a look at this video and witness the power, the Webber-like hands, the excellent handle for a big man and you think that someone with his skillset and his heart can overcome those 3 inches that he is going to be giving up 82 nights per year, Right???

What do you guys think? Is he worth the risk? Should he be avoided at all costs?

Tell me what you think.

Anyone that didn’t get goosebumps when they watched this last night should have their NBA fan card immediately revoked.

This was truly Amazing.

This just in, Bob Johnson is seeking a buyer for the Charlotte Bobcats. If you have several hundred million dollars to spare ( and we know that you do ) then give Bob a buzz. According to reports, he has “lost his passion” for being the owner of the Bobcats… I guess it just doesn’t give you the same rush that the Jumper Classic does.

Charlotte Observer – Rick Bonnell

Charlotte Bobcats majority owner Bob Johnson has stepped up efforts to sell the team, recently hiring a sports investment banker to look for a buyer.

Sal Galatioto, president of New York-based Galatioto Sports Partners, confirmed to the Observer Thursday that he’s representing Johnson in a potential sale. Galatioto declined to comment further on the situation.

…

Team spokesman Michael Thompson e-mailed the Observer Thursday to say Johnson was not available for comment. That same e-mail stated that Johnson’s company “does not comment on rumors.”

A source close to Johnson, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “It’s true, he’s committed to selling the team,” adding, “He’s lost passion” for owning it.

Charlotte Observer – Tom Sorenson

Although the Bobcats have cost Johnson so much money he apparently is no longer a billionaire, he won’t sell cheap. Every really rich guy I’ve ever known looks at money as an end in itself: If he makes money, he wins; and if he loses money, he loses.

There is only one way for Johnson to recoup the millions he has lost, and that’s to find an owner who so desperately wants to play in the big leagues that he is willing to pay more than it is worth. Two years ago, such an idea was feasible. Now, it’s laughable.

Edit 5/22 – Although Bob Johnson won’t be missed by the majority of Bobcats fans, the fact that he is selling the franchise could have some negative on-court effects in the short term.  The thoughts of Westbrook08 in our forums:

This is probably really good news long term,but very bad short term.Most owners when they are in selling mode want to shed as much salary as possible before the sale,which means ray may not be back now,our draft pick might be gone to unload nazr’s contract,and we might not do anything but sign minimum contracts in a year when we could really get some good players on the cheap because of the economy.I hope that I am wrong, or that someone good swoops in really quick before bob sets us back to year one.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be taking a look at players that the Charlotte Bobcats may draft at the #12 spot in this years draft.

Before we get started, I hope you don’t mind if I step off topic for just a moment to comment on the Clippers winning last night’s draft lottery. If there is a team in the league that deserves the #1 pick any less than them, then I’m not aware of it. They’ve been fixtures in the lottery just about every year since the Reagan administration yet they’ve done nothing to build their selves towards becoming anything close to a contender. They’ve been given high pick after high pick but they keep turning them into the Michael Olawakandi and Yaroslav Korolevs of the NBA.  Following the lottery last night, Blake Griffin looked like he was going to become physically ill. He managed to say something about “making the best out of any situation”, but it was blatently obvious that playing for the Clippers was not his Plan A…  B,C,D or E for that matter.

OK, I’m off of my soapbox. The Bobcats will be picking #12 in this years draft and our two biggest needs are a shooting guard who can backup (or potentially challenge) Raja Bell and a physical rebounder and defender.

Gerald Henderson potentially could fill the first of those needs

Looking at the videos, its obvious that he easily has NBA caliber athleticism and he can jump out of the gym. What isn’t shown is that he is an excellent defender at the college level, his shot on the other hand is just average. Last seaon he shot 33% from the three point line at the college level. That will need some work.

So, What are your thoughts on Gerald Henderson? Will he wind up being closer to Vince Carter or Shannon Brown?

When Larry Brown took over the Charlotte Bobcats, he thought that an area of need was point guard. That’s why, even though the team supposedly promised Stanford center Brook Lopez they would draft him with the 9th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, Coach Brown insisted that Rod Higgins and Michael Jordan select Texas product DJ Augustin, an intimidating 6’0, and that’ s on a stat sheet. But when Larry got to training camp and into the season, he realized he already had a point guard in Raymond Felton. Unfortunately, Raymond’s previous coaches had publicly and privately billed him as a combo guard, even though shooting is painfully not his strong suit, and neither is height. After Brown had evaluated Felton to MJ’s satisfaction, he actually decided that Ray was his guy for at least this year, not DJ. After watching this season, and listening to some very rare compliments from the veteran coach who is generally ruthless with his point guards, it is hard to think that Ray isn’t this team’s Point man for the forseeable future. This is not only based on his play, but the way Augustin was used as well.

While I will not even pretend to know as much about this team as half the people at BobcatsPlanet, I think I can tell when one person likes another’s game, and that’s what I saw from Larry Brown towards Raymond Felton. Not only was Raymond our designated closer, much to the chagrin and even despair of many fans, but he was the leader of the offense before Boris Diaw arrived, and was second only to Boris for the rest of the year. Raymond was the only player who could set up alley-oops, especially to Gerald Wallace. Also, Raymond has one major advantage on DJ on a Larry Brown team, and that is defense. He was named to John Hollinger’s Honorable Mention Defensive Team, and was 10th in the league in steals, among all positions. Bill Simmons said that if Raymond can learn to shoot 3′s, he could be the next Chauncey Billups, and that the Bobcats should be careful not to let him slip away. After the season, Coach Brown spoke publicly about his desire for Raymond to be brought back, and said “he had a phenomenal year. He’s done everything we’ve asked.” Coming from Brown, that’s beyond high praise. Felton also holds no grudges with management for shopping him all year while Brown was evaulating him, and is by all accounts one of the nicest guys in the league, but also one of the toughest. This, along with the fact that Felton set several career highs and wants to be back should make him happy here with a well-earned contract to be the starting point guard.

The other reason Felton appears to be the point guard of the future is the way DJ Augustin was used this year, and the way he seems to be being coached. Larry Brown has repeatedly bemoaned to the media that he has tried to get DJ to shoot the ball more instead of pass, to no avail. It seems like Brown is trying to recreate the undersized shooting guard type of player he had in Allen Iverson in Philadelphia that got him deep in the playoffs. Couple that behind a Chauney Billups type that won him a ring in Detroit, and Charlotte could be poised for postseason success in the future. But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, DJ has to embrace the idea that maybe his coach wants him to be more than a point guard. DJ had a deadly 3 point shot, described on the forums and the podcast as “wet.” He was the gamechanger off the bench when he was healthy, and took each competition with a better guard as a personal challenge to grow as a player. For right now, he seems content ot play behind and learn from Felton. But will he still be a team player when he realizes that he isn’t the future? Who knows. Remember, he did refuse to work out for us. And don’t give me the “He wasn’t planning on falling this far” line. There are too many variables for that. You work out for anyone that asks. This kid, as cool as he seems, might not be a happy camper down the road. And we already have one of those. I’m not saying he will, and I love the kid, I’m just being cautious. But back on topic, I don’t see him being a starter for us unless either Larry Brown leaves/retires/gets fired, or Ray has something tragic happen. And none of us want either of those. All in all, even though he was just named 2nd team All-Rookie, I don’t see DJ Augustin as our guy. I could even see him as being gone before the draft.

–TeeJ