Despite all the attention paid to deadline trades and free agent signings, franchise cornerstones arrive on draft night. As in, 26 of the last 32 NBA Finals MVP's were drafted by their respective teams*. For Bobcats fans, a good draft is an exercise in hope, and a great draft is almost delusional. How can I say that? From '06-'08, 3 out of 5 Bobcats lottery picks don't have NBA contracts for next season (4 out of 7 1st rounders). In fact, I'd argue the team's 3rd most successful draft was the 2010 Draft, because there weren't any draft picks to screw up.
But, as an extremely biased and optimistic fan, I believe the team's drafts have turned a corner. In '09, Gerald Henderson and Derrick Brown were good draft choices, and the acquisition of Rich Cho as a GM will undoubtedly bring an analytical element that the front office has never truly embraced. So, with withdrawal deadlines in the rearview mirror, and just a few days until the draft, it's time to finalize thoughts on what the Bobcats should do.
First off, trading up is not a good idea. There's a better chance of getting two solid starters at #9 and #19 than getting an All-NBA player in the top 5. Plus, the Bobcats have Chicago's 1st round pick next year. Seriously, would you rather package two picks for a chance at Irving/Williams/Kanter/Knight/Vesely/Walker this year, or do the same for a chance at Anthony Davis/Harrison Barnes/Perry Jones/James McAdoo/Austin Rivers next year? Plus, according to the ESPN Trade Machine, even an expiring contract like Diaw can't be traded, because he hasn't technically exercised his player option yet. Yeah, let's just wait this out, and get 2 starters and a rotation guy this year.
#9 Pick
Ideal Pick: Kawhi Leonard. You've already read about how much I like him, so let's not re-hash it.
Other Acceptable Picks (in order of preference): Jonas Valanciunas, Kemba Walker, Jan Vesely, Alec Burks, Nikola Vucevic, Klay Thompson, Chris Singleton
#19 Pick
Ideal Pick: Nikola Vucevic. The more I read about him, the more I like. He's a center from a size perspective (with a 6% body fat measurement at the combine, his 7-0 / 260 lbs. seems better than a lot of other big man prospects). He has a real offensive skill-set with his back to the basket, shooting range out to 20+ feet, and appears passable at minimum in the other facets (rebounding, defense, work ethic). He won't face the transition hurdle of the international prospects since he's played at USC for 3 years. I think he's a legit starting center in the league, and his combination of size, skill, and low risk is quite rare (feels a lot like Brook Lopez). In fact, I could even talk myself into a major reach by taking him at #9, that's how much I like him.
Other Acceptable Picks (in order of preference): Klay Thompson, Chris Singleton, Tobias Harris, Jeremy Tyler, Tyler Honeycutt
#39 Pick
Ideal Pick: Norris Cole. All I see is Eric Maynor when I look at Norris Cole. True point guard, with the physical size and athleticism to keep up with the pro game, a consummate floor general and team guy who will stick in the league. If you know of a reason that he won't make it, I'd like to know. Because, from my perspective, there aren't guaranteed rotation players (minimum) in the 2nd round... except for Norris.
Acceptable Picks (in order of preference): Jeremy Tyler, Jon Leuer, Jimmy Butler, Scotty Hopson, Josh Selby
*Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant acquired in draft day trades, but drafted that day. So I'm counting them in the 26.
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