He wasn’t the best option in the league, but Kwame Brown gave the team a serviceable big man to play with. Had Bismack Biyombo been able to get out of his Spanish league contract, he would have likely logged some minutes there as well in order to ease the youngster to the NBA game.

Kwame has instead opted to become a reserve out on the left coast; yeah, the money is better than what he likely would have gotten in Charlotte, but he’s only a reserve there rather than a starter here (doesn’t make sense to me).

All summer long we kept hearing about how Bismack Biyombo was going to get out of his Spanish contract and make it to the U.S. in time for the season. Well, Sports Fans, it looks like that is not going to happen after all. To make a long story short, it will take $4 million to buy out his contract. The team has said it can swing a half mil to help, but the rest is up to him.

I don’t think he’s coming. At least we know we’ll get him next year (maybe the team should consider sending a trainer over to him to help get him in NBA shape…).

That leaves the Bobcats with DeSagana Diop as its only true center; let me rephrase that—an out of shape, 280+ pound DeSagana Diop still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon is the only true center.

Not going to happen, folks.

The Charlotte Bobcats in a completely uneventful trade moved Melvin Ely to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Eric Williams, a 2009 2nd round draft pick and cash considertions.
The Bobcats have mastered the art of making deals that simultaneously have zero impact on the win loss column while simultaneously increasing salary cap space and keeping more money in ownerships pockets.
Who can forget where they were during some other Bobcats moves such as the free agent signing of Othella Harrington this summer?

Great Georgetown big men:
Patrick Ewing
Alonzo Mourning
Dikembe Mutombo
Othella Harrington
Roy Hibbert

Or how everyone was riveted to Sportscenter following the blockbuster Keith Bogans for Lonnie Baxter trade? Hey, Whats Lonnie doing these days ?
{moscomment}

With the February 23^rd trade deadline looming, I am hopeful that Bernie Bickerstaff will bite the bullet and make a move. The biggest chips that he has to play are starting point guard Brevin Knight and power forward Melvin Ely.

Brevin Knight has been the subject of trade rumors all season, most recently with the Memphis Grizzlies. Knight would be of interest to many playoff caliber teams because he could be a solid backup to an established point guard or because of his improved jumper and solid ball handling he could log starter minutes if needed.

Why he is expendable: Raymond Felton, The Bobcats invested the 5^th pick in the 2005 draft in Felton, so there is absolutely no way that Knight gets significant minutes following this season.

Melvin Ely would also be an excellent addition to a playoff caliber roster, he is a fantastic low post scorer and a solid rebounder. In the NBA you can never EVER have too much low post scoring.

Why he is expendable: Emeka Okafor and Sean May: As much as the Bobcats claim that Sean May might be able to play multiple positions, and claim that Okafor can play a little center. The hard cold truth is that they are both power forwards and having a 3^rd quality power forward in Ely is a luxury that this team just can’t afford at this stage of their development. That along with his contract situation makes him a likely candidate to be moved.

Lets hope that the Bobcat’s front office looks at the big picture and tries to get something for either or both of these two players rather than keeping them on the roster just to salvage a few extra wins this season.