Bobcats Have the RARE Opportunity to Hit the RESET Button

[CharlotteHornets]

I was just doing a little bit of research looking into Free Agency for this offseason and it is remarkably weak. There are a few nice players out there but I was not WOWED by it in any way. Then, I went ahead to 2013 Free Agency and that class of potential Free Agents definitely has a WOW Factor. Below I am going to list a majority of the 2013 Free Agents:

Unrestricted PGs:
Chris Paul
Devin Harris
Jose Calderon
Jarrett Jack
Daniel Gibson
C.J. Watson

Restricted PGs:
Stephen Currry - 5.3 QO
Darren Collison - 3.3 QO
Jrue Holiday - 2.7 QO
Ty Lawson - 3.6 QO
Brandon Jennings - 4.3 QO
Jeff Teague - 3.5 QO
Roddy Beabouis - 3.3 QO
Eric Maynor - 3.4 QO

Unrestricted SGs:
Kevin Martin
Tony Allen
JJ Reddick
Mike Dunleavy
Anthony Morrow
Ronnie Brewer
Corey Brewer
Martell Webster

Restricted SGs:
James Harden - 7.6 QO
Tyreke Evans - 6.9 QO
Gerald Henderson - 3.1 QO

Unrestricted SFs:
Dorrell Wright
Rashard Lewis
Kyle Korver

Restricted SFs:
James Johnson - 4.0 QO
Omri Casspi - 3.3 QO
Austin Daye - 4.1 QO

Unrestricted PFs:
Josh Smith
David West
Dejuan Blair
Paul Millsap
Al Jefferson
Brandan Wright

Restricted PFs:
Blake Griffin - 9.4 QO
Taj Gibson - 3.2 QO
Serge Ibaka - 3.2 QO
Tyler Hansbrough - 4.3 QO

Unrestricted Cs:
Dwight Howard
Andrew Bynum
Sam Dalembert
Tiago Splitter
Timofey Mozgov

Restricted Cs:
Byron Mullens - 3.3 QO

As you look of the 2013 Class of Free Agents there is a ton of depth at the PG - SG - PF positions. The Bobcats are in a great situation to make the most out of that class because the only player on the roster that has a guaranteed contract for that season is Tyrus Thomas (Amnesty Will Likely Be Used on T.T. at this point though) and whoever the Bobcats spend their 1st Round Draft Pick on in the 2012 and 2013 Drafts. They will have Team Options on Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo. They will also be able to match any offers for Gerald Henderson and Byron Mullens if they so choose.

Simply put, starting with the 2012 Draft, the Bobcats have a chance to hit the RESET BUTTON if they don't screw up and take on any long term contracts.

If I was the Bobcats I would take whomever the Best Player Available is at #2 (Unless Portland wants to trade #6 & #11 or Cleveland wants to trade #4 & 24)on whoever Rich Cho and Mike Dunlap believe is best player availabe. Then do the same thing with the #31 Pick. The key is DO NOT take on any bad Long Term Contracts in Order to Get Another Draft Pick!!

Don't spend any money in Free Agency this Offseason except on 1-Year Contracts and put yourself in position for the #1 Pick for the 2nd Season in a Row (there is no way Stern would SCREW the Bobcats 2 Years in a Row). Then, hopefully the Trailblazers will be good enough to make the Playoffs so that the Bobcats can get their 1st Round Pick as well.

Then go out and spend yourmoney in Free Agency and you have an entirely new team in only TWO years the Bobcats (Hopefully Charlotte Hornets at this point) you have an entirely NEW TEAM!!

[Whiz Kid]

Depends on who'll come. Main two on this list who I could see coming and making a significant difference is Chris Paul, who I'd call a distant possibility, and Steph Curry, who I definitely see coming to Charlotte sometime in his career if now next offseason. Who else could you see definitely coming to Charlotte and making a difference?

[CharlotteHornets]

Depends on who'll come. Main two on this list who I could see coming and making a significant difference is Chris Paul, who I'd call a distant possibility, and Steph Curry, who I definitely see coming to Charlotte sometime in his career if now next offseason. Who else could you see definitely coming to Charlotte and making a difference?

Potential Team after 2013 Free Agency - Scenario #1

PG: Stephen Curry (FA)/Kemba Walker
SG: James Harden (FA)/John Jenkins (2012 31st Pick)
SF: Harrison Barnes (2012 1st Round Pick)/P.J. Hairston (2013 1st Round Pick from Portland)
PF: Cody Zeller (2013 1st Round Pick)/Paul Millsap (FA)
C: Bismack Biyombo/Byron Mullens

That team would have PURE SHOOTERS (Curry, Harden, Jenkins, Barnes, Hairston, Zeller, Mullens)
That Team would have PENETRATERS (Walker, Harden, Barnes??)
That team would have SHOT BLOCKING (Zeller, Biyombo)
That team would have LOW POST SCORER (Zeller)
That team would have REBOUNDING (Millsap, Zeller, Biyombo)

I think guys like Millsap and Curry would fit in GREAT in Charlotte and you would have to throw some real money at James Harden but he may be worth it...

[Black]

The best way to attract free agents is to improve a lot this year. The money doesn't hurt, but the team has to be on a serious upswing.

[CharlotteHornets]

The best way to attract free agents is to improve a lot this year. The money doesn't hurt, but the team has to be on a serious upswing.

The only way to improve a lot this year would be to go out and overspend in Free Agency which would only return us to being a mediocre team in the same position where we were 3 years ago. The only Free Agent I would bring in is Antawn Jamison.

What this team needs to show is that they have a gameplan for the future and they need to be able to lay that out in front of Free Agents. For arguments sake let's say Kemba and Bismack really show some improvement this season. Then they draft Harrison Barnes and he shows that he is one of the young up and coming stars. Then you have an opportunity to add the #1 Overall Pick next season as a piece to the puzzle (+ potentially another 1st Round Pick from Portland) there are a lot of players that would like to get on board!

For me the most important thing is for the Bobcats to show a commitment to a style of play on the offensive and defensive end of the court and develop their young talent. If you have $42 Million to spend in Free Agency in 2013 to decide who you want to resign and who you want to acquire you will be able to bring in talented players like Curry, Harden, and Millsap. We will be able to pay them well and they can come together to play for a young, up & coming team.

Notice I did not say we should sign Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, or Andrew Bynum...those are 3 players that are in there primes and want to play in big markets and win a Title ASAP! Curry, Harden, and Millsap are the type of players you can attract to a smaller market...

[dnbman]

That's exactly why a lot of us have being saying to hold off on free agency this summer: next year is so much better. Yeah, you have to feel a team, but we could have a bunch of young talent and sign two guys next year. As long as we show a lot of progress this year and create a foundation, we should be in good shape to get free agents next year, especially when the cap is a lot more restrictive.

[CharlotteHornets]

That's exactly why a lot of us have being saying to hold off on free agency this summer: next year is so much better. Yeah, you have to feel a team, but we could have a bunch of young talent and sign two guys next year. As long as we show a lot of progress this year and create a foundation, we should be in good shape to get free agents next year, especially when the cap is a lot more restrictive.

Absolutely!

[TheBeagle]

Well, MJ admitted during the STH town hall shindig at the end of last season ('10-'11 season) that that is what the new plan was going forward, hitting the reset button. Drafting and acquiring youth and assets, and hitting the FA market starting in '13. Even though a seven-win season was never in the cards, the plan is proceeding accordingly. Full steam ahead.

[spectre]

I see some solid players in that FA class but I'm a little short on the "wow". You do have Paul but he's not coming back. Dwight ain't coming here. Most of those RFAs will be retained. Not as hot and bothered about Curry as a lot of others are.

I think trades will more be our friend.

[CharlotteHornets]

I see some solid players in that FA class but I'm a little short on the "wow". You do have Paul but he's not coming back. Dwight ain't coming here. Most of those RFAs will be retained. Not as hot and bothered about Curry as a lot of others are.

I think trades will more be our friend.

Well I think Steph Curry or Eric Maynor are definitely attainable at PG. I think the Thunder won't be too keen on resigning Harden after his performance in the Finals. But also Gerald Henderson could have a great season making it unnecessary to pursue Harden. Also I am a HUGE Millsap fan and he is unrestricted and the Cats could get him!

Between this Draft and the 2013 Draft we should find our stars!

[JGib23]

Charlotte Hornets- nice breakdown. The only player from this years free agent class that I would risk cap space on is Hibbert.

Just think, with our cap space next offseason, we could be the next Miami and sign Dwight Howard & Chris Paul

[kickazzz2000]

Charlotte Hornets- nice breakdown. The only player from this years free agent class that I would risk cap space on is Hibbert.

Just think, with our cap space next offseason, we could be the next Miami and sign Dwight Howard & Chris Paul

lol 10 char

[BrotherDave]

Man, the only way any FAs worth a damn are going to sign here is if we draft a franchise player and look like serious up and comers. We are an awful team, we'll be an awful team next year regardless of who we draft this year, and we'll probably be pretty bad the next year.

We just need to target sneaky FA acquisitions like Jeff Green (medical issue) or a Terrence Williams (knucklehead issue) that can be stockpiled in trades later.

[JGib23]

I should have ended my sentence with /sarcasm