Bobcats Unsure Of Extending Cunningham

[D.J.2Hendo]

With the NBA Finals over, teams can now start making qualifying offers to restrict certain players' free agency. Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins said Tuesday the team still hasn't decided whether to extend a qualifying offer to forward Dante Cunningham.

That qualifying offer to Cunningham would cost about $1 million. He played well late last season, filling in for an injured Stephen Jackson. But then he was arrested after the season, in the Philadelphia area, and charged with marijuana possession.

http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_nba/2011/06/no-decision-on-cunningham.html

[ammofan]

Man, e needs to be a Bobcat next year. But I guess if we draft a backup SF we dont really NEED him.

[Dcarnys]

I'd still take him, I'm not too worried about an arrest for having pot on him. It doesn't outwigh the fact that he's cheap and versitale.

[BlockParty]

This is just a timing thing, Cho is all about acquiring assets. At the QO amount for Dante' it is a no-brain'er to sign him; however, we get zero benefit from doing it before the deadline. If Dante' jeopardizes his standing prior to the deadline: wreck a motorcycle ala Jay Williams (Duke/Bulls) or have more legal problems, we wouldn't have to go to his contract to convince a judge or arbitrator that he breached his contract.

And as previously mentioned, we could draft and/or trade for a player with more potential...so, timing is all this is.

[LiquidWayno]

I like Dante, but would like to wait it out. Maybe other teams will forget about him and can't start a bidding war for him. I'm interested to see how Cho feels about Cunningham.

[D.J.2Hendo]

I hope we keep him.

[Plowright]

Remember Cho had Dante in Portland so knows him, his game and what he is worth. If we dont resign him i am sure there will be a perfectly good reason.

[BRNC]

From Rod today..."Notes: Bobcats G Gerald Henderson was still on crutches Wednesday following hip surgery in May. Henderson, who said he'll rehab at Duke if there's a lockout, said he still hopes to be ready for the start of training camp in the fall. ... Higgins said they'll wait until after the draft to decide whether to make a qualifying offer to F Dante Cunningham to make him a restricted free agent."

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/bobcats/story/9765121/

[BlockParty]

I think the only way Dante doesn't get the QO is if we draft Kawhi or trade for a veteran SF that would be above him in the depth chart.

[BRNC]

I think the only way Dante doesn't get the QO is if we draft Kawhi or trade for a veteran SF that would be above him in the depth chart.

Really depends on the Coaches...if they've decided he's a 3 or 4....and if we make a trade before the draft...and of course who we actually draft...

[Proudiddy]

Yeah, for the amount of production at that price, no way we pass up giving him the QO - - - UNLESS, we have plans to stack talent at those positions (3/4). Look at all the bodies we already have at the 4, now look at the guys we're looking at drafting - 3's and 4's. That's not taking into account what possible trades we could be working on. I think that's why we're waiting until after the draft in case we don't get what we're going in there planning to come out with.

[WAM9]

I agree with you guys 100%. At that price, there is no way our roster is deep enough to NOT offer him the QO. If we don't, I have to believe there is something else we don't know about going on.

[BRNC]

Rod Higgins continues to be non-commital about making a qualifying offer to Dante Cunningham. (http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_nba/2011/06/wow-its-late-and-yet-i-blog.html) Small forward is the Bobcats' most shallow position, but maybe they just don't want to guarantee Cunningham a million dollars for the season. Charlotte Observer (http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_nba/2011/06/wow-its-late-and-yet-i-blog.html)

[Kemba2Hendo]

We better make the offer now.

[BRNC]

We better make the offer now.

Well...we can really suck worse by bringing back "Who the F**K is" for less money...