Later tonight (7 pm) will be the Bobcat's Expansion Draft. It's kind of sad that not one team seems to care about the 9th player on their bench or below. Really? Is the NBA so devoid of talent that teams should only be 8 deep (with of course that sham of an injury list since every player in the NBA must be perpetual hurt or they wouldn't be able to be placed on the list at any time when the mood hits a team). The Charlotte Hornets may have had the best expansion draft ever by acquiring two players who lasted on the team for a better part of a decade (Curry and Mugsy). This year's event seems to be solely an opportunity for the Bobcats to be bribed to take other people's headaches in exchange for draft picks and cash (though, of course, not nearly enough).
I'm not sure if I'm too excited about this deal for the number 2 pick. Though everyone loves to claim this draft sucks, there are 4 cut above the rest guys (Ok', Howard, Deng, and Livingston), perhaps 5 if this AZ kid is really any good, but I doubt it. There really was no reason to trade up. In fact, I have the feeling that 3 to 4 years down the road Livingston will be the most special player from this draft and he was going to fall into the Bobcat's lap. Now we have to pray that Howard is the 2nd coming of Garnett or Duncan or Ok' becomes Ewing or Mourning. Plus for a team that needs players, the Bobcats surrendered the 33rd pick for a guy who is sounding an awful lot like a tomato can. The Clippers obviously couldn't give this guy away fast enough. I also wonder if the two teams have a handshake deal for the Bobcats to take a contract off the Clippers' hands in the expansion draft. Oh well.
Btw, thank you, Martin Iti! You made a wise move not staying in the draft. After claiming it was an exercise to learn from some NBA coaching, the rumors were you planned to enter to help your family. As I am sure you are well aware, you would not have been drafted and probably would have ended up playing in some foreign league being paid very little. With some hard work, this guy will be drafted. Probably not next year unless a lightning bolt strikes, but perhaps after his junior year. He's currently the best NBA center prospect in the state of North Carolina.
Posted by shs4 at June 22, 2004 01:17 AM | TrackBackAs further clarification, though I've seen it reported both ways, Peja is not technically part of the deal but will be chosen by the Bobcats in the expansion draft (though perhaps that is contractual enforceable).
Posted by: boo at June 22, 2004 05:33 PM