Bobcats Blowing It Up?
With the NBA trade deadline less than 24 hours away, the Charlotte Bobcats are reportedly heavy in discussion with various teams around the league. Players such as Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw all appear to be on the market for the right price.
During his press conference after his interim tag was removed and one year added to his contract, Bobcats’ head coach Paul Silas talked about how much more involved, if any, he would be in trade discussions between then and the trade deadline.
"Well when I took the job, Rod told me that they wouldn’t make any deals without my consent. So getting together with them and working it out is really most important," Silas said. "I love the people here in Charlotte and I think that they deserve a good product from us and it’s getting there."
Bobcats’ general manager Rod Higgins, sitting next to Silas, reiterated the coach’s belief the team would delve internally to see about improving the team — rather than clearing cap space — come February 24th.
"Even if we decide to shake our roster and make some trades, we’re going to do that with the mindset of still competing and trying to get into the playoffs," Higgins said. "It will be interesting with the league, there are so many conversations that happen prior to the deadline that usually doesn’t lead to anything. You have some much speculation with some of the bigger names in terms of being traded.
"Michael [Jordan] has basically stated to look, and he’s put Paul [Silas] and I on notice, to look at our roster and see how we can best upgrade it," Higgins continued. "So next week I’m sure between now and then the conversations that I’ll have and we’ll have will be pretty substantial."
It’s unknown whether the Bobcats believe the 16-13 start with Silas running the show is enough to try to fortify the roster; or if MJ and Higgins will be in money-savings mode with the team seven games under .500 and a game out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. But, as the deadline nears, the Bobcats have certainly been more tight-lipped about any trade talks. This is apparently due to the lack of substantial offers for some of Charlotte’s available players.
"There are always talks about players that might be able to help you and other teams are calling for your players and that kind of thing," Silas said before Tuesday game against the Toronto Raptors. "But it all boils down to what your getting back and obviously there’s nothing significant that they felt we could get back, so we’re not just going to give people away and thats what most teams want you to do is give your quality players away."
Here’s a look at the three most likely Bobcats to exit Charlotte come Thursday and where they may end up:
Gerald Wallace:
Sources say one of the Bobcats’ major trading assets, Wallace, may be heading to the Portland Trail Blazers. This is still in the early stages, and it’s unknown whether the Blazers are offering up an actual player, or the Bobcats are just maneuvering for more cap space.
Wallace reeled off a quick "no comment" just after the words trade deadline had come out of my mouth following last night’s 114-101 win over the Raptors, so all of the constant chatter appears to be on his mind as well. The Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers are all possible suitors for Wallace.
Wallace, second on the Bobcats in scoring, is averaging 15.6 points and leads Charlotte in rebounding at 8.2 boards a game. He has two years left on his contract at $9.5 million, the second a Player Option.
Boris Diaw:
{AUTHOR_BOX}Another player whom the Bobcats have openly has discussions about dealing is Boris Diaw. The 6’8 power forward is averaging 11.4 points on nearly 50 percent shooting, and Diaw says the trade speculation is nothing new to the seven-year veteran.
"I’ve heard my name for a year now [in trade rumors]," Diaw said after last night’s game, "so I’m pretty used to it."
Diaw has a $9 million Player Option for next season.
Charlotte may be looking to deal Diaw as a part of a package with either Gerald Wallace or…
Stephen Jackson:
Both the Lakers and Mavericks have shown interest in acquiring the 10-year veteran, who currently leads Charlotte in scoring. Jackson is regarded as a quality defender and scorer, making him possibly the more enticing players on the market.
Jackson has consistently said he will play wherever he ends up and whatever happens happens. The volatile guard would likely want to be moved if sources are true and Wallace is moving on to Portland. The Mavs could dangle Caron Butler’s expiring in the face of Charlotte’s brass and see if they get a bite.
With a contract that pays him nearly $20 million over the course of the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons, Jackson may be harder to move than Charlotte might like.
If either Jackson or Wallace is moved, it’s likely second-year player Gerald Henderson would take their spot in the starting lineup.
The Future:
Whether or not a deal goes down, a player like D.J. Augustin — who led the team with 23 points and eight assists in last night’s win — figures to be a key cog for the Bobcats both this season and for the foreseeable future.
"I think we have a great team, I’ve always felt like that," Augustin said. "Whatever happens with trades or anything, that’s not up to me or my teams. That’s the front office."
Players like Matt Carroll (acquired by Charlotte before the season in the Erick Dampier, Tyson Chandler swap) know that this is a business and prepare themselves accordingly as the deadline nears.
"You just don’t even think about it, just block it out," Carroll said. "Everyone knows it’s there. You can get traded at any point during the season, so I think the deadline’s coming up so some guys get a little more anxious. At the end of the day, you have no control over it so you try to just block it out as best you can."
The front office, led by majority owner Jordan, hasn’t shied away from making deals since he headed that post in 2006. In fact, Charlotte has made 13 deals involving a whopping 35 players in that time span, so another deadline deal would be par for the course for Jordan.
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