All around the country (and likely some parts of the world) basketball fans are enjoying an early Christmas present—their favorite NBA stars are returning to work.
A handful of Bobcats—including rookies Bismark Biyombo and Kemba Walker—along with Anthony Morrow of the New Jersey Nets and Derrick Brown of the New York Knicks took to the court at Time Warner Cable Arena Friday (facilities were opened up on Thursday). Coaches can’t join workouts yet, but it’s good to see guys eager to return to the home floor.
The deal isn’t set in stone just yet, but every indication says it is going to happen. Plans have been put in motion for the season to start with a flurry of games on Christmas Day featuring some of the NBA’s marquee teams (ho ho ho, right?).
Charlotte isn’t on that list, but that’s okay; Bobcats fans will see their team all in due time. Fans will also finally get a chance to see if all the wheeling and dealing last season along with the two first round picks in the last draft can change the team’s playoff fortunes.
What could help this team of fairly young talent of course would be a solid, veteran player that can lead the team through the peaks and valleys that are inherent with the NBA season. The right guy could be the key to stopping a losing streak or keeping the heads of passionate rookies on straight when they get a hot hand.
The best candidate currently on the roster is 12-year veteran Corey Maggette. If that makes you cringe a little bit that is okay. Corey has been a solid player during his day, but I don’t think he’s the type of guy that can settle a team down when they are riled up or lift them out of the doldrums.
So go get someone out of free agency, right? For the Bobcats that could end up being harder than it sounds.
For months, the media was clamoring for Bobcats owner Michael Jordan to get more involved in negotiations. With the stature that he has in the NBA, and having been on the other side of the negotiating table during CBA talks many thought that his insight could prove vital to getting an agreement signed sooner rather than later.
They thought since he had been a player that he could understand what the current players were going through and how to talk to them. As an owner now as well, they thought he could also see their side of the argument as well. Being the only person that can actually understand both sides of the issue he could be the key.
Boy, were they disappointed when His Airness spoke like an owner of a small market basketball team rather than the former star that he was in Chicago. Sure enough, for finally doing what everyone wanted the man was essentially vilified.
Player after player came out in the media bashing Michael Jordan; guys that no one but their mothers had ever heard of or ones that can’t beat Jordan in a game of NBA Jams let alone on a real basketball court. That leads to the question of the day—
Are the ill feelings towards Jordan more widespread than we know? Would they be enough for some big name players to not sign with the team? Could the team end up being forced to trust the young talent they have in order to make a playoff push because no marquee players want to play for a perceived “sell out?”
Free agency starts on Monday so we’ll find out soon enough.
Do you think marquee players would come here regardless of how they feel about jordan in the first place?? do we have anything but playing time to offer?
I think playing time is a big factor for players that may be fighting for minutes on their current team. Unfortunately it’s not much of an incentive for top free agents because they are going to get their minutes regardless.
Call me synical but i think this has been exagerated. People are putting the lockout behind them, at the end of the day we know that players in the NBA are drawn to two things, winning and money. When we can offer those things players will come, they wont care about some comments from MJ months/years ago
The players who spoke out against him had no idea of the situation as it was, and simply expected MJ to side with them because he used to play. I don’t think MJ hurt the franchise during the CBA, in fact everything he did was in an attempt to help Charlotte.
I’m with Christian, marquee players won’t come here regardless, the only thing Charlotte can do is create an environment that will be regarded around the league as a good place to play even if the team itself is not that good.
Great comments guys! Keep ‘em coming!
I think where there will be an issue is in the next few weeks as the flurry of free agent activity kicks off. A lot of these guys are clueless to the real issues at hand and will just remember that Jordan ‘sold them out.’
Who wants to work for a guy that you may screw you the first chance he gets? If he was willing to sell them out in the negotiations (as some perceive), what’s to say he won’t find a way to screw them in their contract. After all, he’s all about No 1, right?
As for marquee players, for them it will be more about the money. If they get it, I don’t think they care. That will be the question though–if.
Once the season starts I think it will all be forgotten and it will be back to business, but by then the best free agents, be they marquee or role players, will be gone.
I may be ignorant but this stigma that nobody wants to play in a small market seems petty and seems to be total bs.
I have never lived in a big market city but have lived in cities. What I have come to know is that even in small market cities opportunities will present themselves to star and superstar players based on their talent alone. I also know that most cities of any size have some semblance of a night life. I for one think it is foolish for players to entertain much of a nightlife during the season anyhow.
I do not know Charlotte or North Carolina but being a Tarheel fan for many years now I know that your largest city and your state is basketball crazy. One could say it is a college thing only but I saw how the Hornets were one time the most supported team in the NBA with a rocking environment for players.
With many talented young players coming from your state and your region I am sure there are players who would love to stay in the area to play their pro ball.
I doubt the CBA and MJ’s stance will affect the organization in regards to big time free agents. If we get a few talented players in the draft some big time free agents will see the chance to make the Bobcats a real competitor for championships.
I respect your opinion and want to say thanks for our comments, but I have to disagree. It isn’t that the team is a small market team that bothers players; its the fact that most small market teams can’t pay them as well as other teams can.
I totally agree with you that players should take it easy when it comes to the nightlife during the season, but do you really think that any of them do? Highly doubtful.
You are right about big time free agents not caring about MJ or the CBA; for them its all about the money. Is Charlotte willing to pay for anyone? I dont think so. That leaves the guys that are good, but not great, and don’t warrant huge paydays. I know Im in the minority here, but I do think that some guys would be willing to take a little less cash or the same for another team because they don’t know if MJ will sell them out.