From ESPN Insider

[walkerl]

The basketball legend Michael Jordan, who joined the Bobcats last summer as a minority partner and manager of operations, attributes Mr. Johnson's strains to the rigors of the learning curve.

"Bob is one of the most sophisticated businessmen that I know, but being that he didn't have any experience in this business, he may have been more tight with the dollars than he should have been," he says. "But Bob knows now that he"s got to spend, that being successful in professional sports requires a whole different approach. Like me, he's very competitive and knows how to win."

[ziggy]

This summer Bob Johnson has to prove to us that hes going to unhinge his wallet.

[Mustachio]

im in the camp that believes not spending a lot of money was a really great idea.

all that was well and good and would may have been a waste of money.

however like zig said.... This summer bob johnson might wanna dish out a little cash to keep the little fan base he has.

i really dont want him to go out and break the bank on FA's but id like to see our core good players resigned and given fair contracts. and vince carter is starting to sound a little better as our SG or SF.

Felton
Carter
Crash
Mek
Primoz

thats a huge lineup with serious scoring ability. without really breakin the bank at all. granted thats probally not a championship caliber starting line either. definetly a 40-45 maybe 50 win team (if were well coached )

[spectre]

im in the camp that believes not spending a lot of money was a really great idea.

all that was well and good and would may have been a waste of money. 

however like zig said.... This summer bob johnson might wanna dish out a little cash to keep the little fan base he has.

I really don't want him to go out and break the bank on FA's but id like to see our core good players resigned and given fair contracts.      and vince carter is starting to sound a little better as our SG or SF. 

Felton
Carter
Crash
Mek
Primoz

thats a huge lineup with serious scoring ability.     without really breakin the bank at all.    granted thats probally not a championship caliber starting line either.    definetly a 40-45  maybe  50 win team   (if were well coached )


I certainly didn't want them going after the "big" FAs up til this year...they've not been worth it.  I do wish we'd have made a run at a guy like Wilcox to team up with Mek.

I so hope what Jordan's saying is true.  Like Ziggy said, this summer will tell the tale. Tamburello showed that we could sign VC and still be like 10-12 million UNDER the cap. That's still being somewhat frugal but getting us an all star player.

Mustachio...heck, go hog wild...sub in Oden or Durant for Primoz

Felton
VC
Crash
Durant
Mek

That would make some noise!

[ziggy]

Mustachio...heck, go hog wild...sub in Oden or Durant for Primoz

Felton
VC
Crash
Durant
Mek

That would make some noise!

The same thought went through my head after reading Mustachio's post, except this was the lineup I had in mind:
Ray
Vince
Crash
Emeka
Oden

We would own the Eastern Conference for the next several years and Bobcats tickets would become tough to get.

[123together]

i think the 'cats will use a lot of their cap space to resign their own players. g-force could demand 6-8 million a year. emeka is a year from free agency. however, i think if we got 1 legit FA this summer, it could put us over the top because we also have 2 first round picks assuming toronto doesn't collapse. i like rashard lewis (i'm not sure if he's gotten an extension yet), he has a diversified arsenal to score which we need. imagine this

ray ray
marcus williams (toronto's pick)
rashard lewis
g-force
emeka

bench with morrison, carroll, may, and possibly a julian wright (our pick in the top 5, but hopefully its higher and we get durant/oden).

we could fastbreak like crazy no doubt

[CaptainCrunch]

I agree with 123, i really enjoy reading your input for the Bobcat Nation you really seem to know what you are talking about. I just bosted your rep.

[dav7z]

CRASH OR LEWIS both max contracts both s/fs
Lewis 6.10 around 21 ppg Crash 6,8 around 16ppg
It would be a big frunt line with Lewis 6.10 , Okafor 6.10 , Olden 7.0
Carter and Felton OMG.

[Dead_Real]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[dvdbumpus]

Can Rashard Lewis play SG at all? I only ask this because if Crash was resigned largely in part to his stellar defense, if Lewis could man the 2 while crash takes the 3.

Lewis' D sucks, that's the only downfall from him.

Would he opt out of his contract with Seattle and play here? He would make about 10 million there on a team he's played 8 years with.

I'd love to have him, I just see stiff competition and who knows if he'll stay with Seattle or not.

I'd take Lewis because he can score and isn't as much of an injury risk.

It just sucks cuz Crash is my fav player :P

[dav7z]

It comes down to resign Crash. And sign Lewis or Carter we cant sign all of them its no way with cap space . I think we only have money for too of the three. We talking two long term high dollar contracts hear so we need to be careful WHO ever we sign.

[dvdbumpus]

I was rethinking my statement. I would say sign Carter and Wallace. Carter's offense would complement Crash's defense. Carter and Lewis probably would not have success because if Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis get outplayed every night (true, Seattle's team does stink) Vince and Rashard probably wouldn't do any better.

Maybe Crash's fire will keep Carter's fire level up? Honestly, if he was inspired every night, he can drop 50 on anyone he chooses.

I'll take Crash because of defense and a higher ceiling at this point. Vinsanity can do the shooting and the 3's.

Now all we need to do is hire Phoenix's assistant coach and instill the offensive bombardment the suns have. What is his name?

[ziggy]

Are you thinking of Marc Iavaroni?

I would love it if they brought that Phoenix Suns offense to the Bobcats.

[spectre]

I was rethinking my statement. I would say sign Carter and Wallace. Carter's offense would complement Crash's defense. Carter and Lewis probably would not have success because if Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis get outplayed every night (true, Seattle's team does stink) Vince and Rashard probably wouldn't do any better.

Maybe Crash's fire will keep Carter's fire level up? Honestly, if he was inspired every night, he can drop 50 on anyone he chooses.

I'll take Crash because of defense and a higher ceiling at this point. Vinsanity can do the shooting and the 3's.

Now all we need to do is hire Phoenix's assistant coach and instill the offensive bombardment the suns have. What is his name?


Well said...totally agree.

[dav7z]

Are you thinking of Marc Iavaroni?

I would love it if they brought that Phoenix Suns offense to the Bobcats.

THAT SHOULD BE OUR NEXT COACH 100 percect agree

[dvdbumpus]

Are you thinking of Marc Iavaroni?

I would love it if they brought that Phoenix Suns offense to the Bobcats.



Yup, that would be the guy I'm talking about. Hopefully he can reel in Kurt Thomas in a below value deal too..his defense would be a great boost and veteran presence to backup the PF/C spots (much improved from Primoz!). I don't care if he's 500 years old.