Goals for this year?

[dnbman]

Assuming we have a season, what do you think are realistic goals for this season?

First, I'd like to see us responsibly give as many minutes to our young players as possible. We don't want to destroy their confidence by just sticking them out there and letting them sink or swim. However, I want to see as much youth on the court as possible. In previous years, a veteran might have given us a better chance of winning; however, I don't see veterans on our roster that help us much more than the youth.

Second, I'd like us to move Carroll and Diaw for anything that makes our future better: a second rounder, young risk/reward player, money, etc. I'd even take on a little more salary this year so that we could rid ourselves of Carroll's contract. (By the way, I owe Slam an apology. I argued with him after we signed that deal that it wasn't that bad. Hey, Slam, if you're out there, it was that bad.)

Try to buyout Diop at the end of the season. If we could convince him to take $3M, he could still go get a $2-3M contract making up most of the difference. (Though, I'm not sure exactly how all of that works.) Hopefully, we get something out of him this season.

Sign Theo Ratliff. He won't contribute much, but he'd be a great tutor for Biyombo. He should be cheap.

Those would be my main goals. Any other realistic possibilities?

Here's the list of '11 and '12 free agents, though it needs to be updated a bit.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgents-11-12

[The Prodigy]

I agree with most of this. We need to play the young guys as much as possible. Not only will they gain experience, but chances are, the more they play, the worse we will do. I think it is crucial that we are a lottery team next year so we keep the our 1st rounder from the Bulls. If we were to play Magette and Diaw significant minutes, we might win more games than I would like to see. The better the pick, obviously the more valuable it is to us, and teams that may have players we want.

I would like to see us move Diaw at the deadline, where his value is the highest, for a pick in next years draft. If we can end up with 2 1st rounders for 3 years in a row, it will be very helpful in rebuilding this team. Whether those picks are trade assests or players we want to build around.

Also, like you said we need to sign some veteran teachers to help Kemba and Biyombo. Maggette should actually be able to help out Henderson, so thats a good start. But any veteran who is willing to teach these guys and not play too much is fine by me.

And of course, we need to get CP3 and Dwight Howard.:biggrin:

[SWedd523]

Our goal for this year is to assure we have "Harrison Barnes--Charlotte Bobcats", 365 days from now.

Oh and to use the amnesty clause on Diop or Maggette.

Oh and to hope BB turns into Baby Dwight, not Diop Deux.

Oh and to hope Kemba turns into Tim Hardaway lite

[Mustachio]

great thread dnb.


My goals are a little higher than most I guess. My goal is still to make the playoffs. I can't cheer knowing my team is trying to get into the lottery again. So I think every effort should be to get into the playoffs.

I know thats far fetched with a returning roster that averages 65 points a game total, but i just think thats how it should be.


I think like has been said, the youth should get every opportunity to play. We need to know if Henderson is the guy we think he is. ( I think he will surprise this year) We need to find out if DJ is starter or Kemba's back up early on. Don't let that fight linger all year. Pick one and stick with it.

I'm worried about Diaw a bit actually. I'm not like everyone else here, I love Diaw. I think he's probably the most talented player on our roster, and by far the smartest bbIQ. I think he can teach Biyombo a lot this year about good footwork and how to use his hands as a big man. I don't think Diaw is lazy, I just think thats how he rolls in life. Its a casual deal with him. And as cool as that might be in a bar, I worry about it rubbing off on the youth of the team. I want this team to develop some chemistry and a binding killer instinct and they definitely wont learn that from Diaw.

Overall, I'm really excited about this year. Unlike last year, where the only goal was playoffs and you just knew the whole time even with Gerald that it was a long shot. At least this year we know what we got and the only way to go is up. Now we can watch games and watch players develop and find their roles all without the expectation of a championship . Does that make sense? I think this year will be better because instead of looking from above and being disappointed, we are looking up and it really can't be any worse than last year. From a NBA junkie stand point, its gonna be a fun year.

[BlockParty]

1.) Have Diaw average career highs in all meaningful stats between now and trade deadline and move him in a deal similar to GW's
2.) Have Diop have a similar injury to his same Achilles (I'm not one to wish ill will, but that would get Diop paid and Cats off the hook for the following season with career ending injury loophole).
3.) Sign a mentor'ish big man to help Bismack, especially if Oakley can't coach (Theo, Juwan Howard, Nazr)
4.) Sign Kwame to a 2 year deal with team option for years 3 & 4 (similar to Liv's).
5.) Move DJ at the first sign of faltering as Kemba moves into role has the Alpha Dog of the team.
6.) Avoid any significant injury (outside of the already mentioned Diop injury in #2)

[Twan's Kin]

+1 on signing Ratliff. Hell, we could sign Nazr and Ratliff.

[Chef]

i hate to type this but:

1. lose as many games as humanly possible WITHOUT tanking. play hard and hope buzzer beaters never go in for us.
2. win the lottery
3. while losing games intentionally pad diaw's stats so he can fetch us a 1st round pick in next years draft
4. repeat step 3 with mags hoping for a straight salary dump
5. cut the break lines to both carroll and diop's cars (i am kidding, but not really)
6. let the youngins play

[bes628]

i hate to type this but:

5. cut the break lines to both carroll and diop's cars (i am kidding, but not really)


lmao...thats just swell.

[ALong13]

I think first and foremost is to let our young guys develop. We've always had a problem of developing players, but I think Silas can be a bit different. I'm not expecting much for the season, but if I see our players improve as the season goes on, I'll be content without the playoffs. I don't necessarily want our goal to be to tank the season in our rebuilding efforts as I want our guys to give it all they have, but I'd rather be in the bottom 3 or so then at 9th or 10th in the East.

I'm praying Oakley can come back and coach. I think he could really help Biyombo as he did did with Kwame. If he can not come back, I think we need to bring in another former big man who can coach and mentor these players. I'd personally have no problem having Kwame starts half the season as Biyombo gets extensive minutes behind him, and then have Biyombo take over in the second half of the season.

I'm mixed on Diaw. I think he is an incredibly smart player, and a great passer who can help this team a lot. I also believe he is the best all-around player currently on our team. However I believe his presence hurts our young guys. When Thomas was signed to the long term deal I saw it as a Diaw will either be traded or he'll become a backup and Thomas will start, yet it never occurred. I think we need to trade him and either go for talented young players in return or try and get UNprotected first round draft picks. (Worked out well for Cleveland and the Jazz)

[anton273]

I take it Kemba is going to be our clutch guy, hope he nails a three in an early game to win a game just to give him that confidence for the season ahead!

Kemba to out shine Knight would be nice for all those who think we were silly missing on him.

Hendo comes back from injury, hungry and gets more than 15ppg

Finish with 5/6th worst record but win the lottery :)

[BobCatsFanInTx]

1. For the Bobcats to not make any rash decisions with the hope of going worst to first overnight.

2. Fir the young players to get plenty of playing time.

3. For the players and the team to show marked improvement as the season moves along. That does not necessarily mean in wins but just in overall quality of play and how the team competes.

[Kemba2Hendo]

great thread dnb.


My goals are a little higher than most I guess. My goal is still to make the playoffs. I can't cheer knowing my team is trying to get into the lottery again. So I think every effort should be to get into the playoffs.

I know thats far fetched with a returning roster that averages 65 points a game total, but i just think thats how it should be.


I think like has been said, the youth should get every opportunity to play. We need to know if Henderson is the guy we think he is. ( I think he will surprise this year) We need to find out if DJ is starter or Kemba's back up early on. Don't let that fight linger all year. Pick one and stick with it.

I'm worried about Diaw a bit actually. I'm not like everyone else here, I love Diaw. I think he's probably the most talented player on our roster, and by far the smartest bbIQ. I think he can teach Biyombo a lot this year about good footwork and how to use his hands as a big man. I don't think Diaw is lazy, I just think thats how he rolls in life. Its a casual deal with him. And as cool as that might be in a bar, I worry about it rubbing off on the youth of the team. I want this team to develop some chemistry and a binding killer instinct and they definitely wont learn that from Diaw.

Overall, I'm really excited about this year. Unlike last year, where the only goal was playoffs and you just knew the whole time even with Gerald that it was a long shot. At least this year we know what we got and the only way to go is up. Now we can watch games and watch players develop and find their roles all without the expectation of a championship . Does that make sense? I think this year will be better because instead of looking from above and being disappointed, we are looking up and it really can't be any worse than last year. From a NBA junkie stand point, its gonna be a fun year.

And give the Bulls our 1st rounder in one of the deepest drafts in recent memory? No thanks!

[Kemba2Hendo]

The #1 overall this season had 32 wins so I say we need to win 25 or less games or best case scenario it's a shortened season and we go like (5-25).

[WFU4LIFE]

Trade Diaw.

Play the young guys as much as possible.

Get a top 5 pick in the draft.

[bes628]

Barnes or Bust is my motto.


Not really...

[teej]

Find someone stupid to trade for DJ

Find someone stupid to give up the farm for Diaw in a playoff run

Sign a young 3pt shooter at the 3 spot

Play Kemba/Hendo/Dante/Tyrus/Bitchsmack as much as possible with DJ2 and Carroll off the bench.

Tell Maggette to just stay away, go to Cabo for 6 months, we'll send you a check on the 1st and the 15th to your condo.

[TheBeagle]

i hate to type this but:

1. lose as many games as humanly possible WITHOUT tanking. play hard and hope buzzer beaters never go in for us.
2. win the lottery
3. while losing games intentionally pad diaw's stats so he can fetch us a 1st round pick in next years draft
4. repeat step 3 with mags hoping for a straight salary dump
5. cut the break lines to both carroll and diop's cars (i am kidding, but not really)
6. let the youngins play
This. Exactly.

[JayTeeBeeTee]

Develop while trying to make the playoffs. We still need to build a fan base in Charlotte and nobody's going to come to games to watch the Cats tank.

I see a team that quite possibly could play as one, a bunch of youngsters out there hustling every night, just like basketball should be. I can just imagine Tyrus and Smack running amok all over the boards and blocks, with a quick paced and aggressive offense while spreading the court and getting some fast break opportunities. Kemba knocking down clutch shots. I'm excited about a best case scenario season.

[spectre]

Granted we were shiny and new...but that 1st year was damn fun to watch where we racked up a grand total of 18 wins. We were known as never giving up and scrappy as hell.

I'd be content with something similar this year.