If the Charlotte Bobcats do not make the playoffs what will happen?

[SirBobcat]

I am curious about what the members here think.

Do we keep on chugging or is it rebuild time by sending Okafor and Wallace off for a combination of expiring contracts and solid young players?

[Black]

It would be a huge blow to the identity of the team. I think it will greatly affect Larry's decision of whether or not he wants to keep coaching. I don't think he will coach us if we decide to rebuild.

There was a rumor of us trading Wallace to Cleveland for Wally Szczerbiak and JJ Hickson, but thank god it turned out to just be a case of a journalist trying to create buzz.

Here's a link to his retraction:

http://clevelandcavaliersblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/forget-gerald-wallace.html

[spectre]

If we don't it'll be because of injury and that happens to the best of teams (look at Boston last season).

So long as MJ is here I think LB will be here. In regards to "blowing it up" I think there's always a chance we could do something like that so long as LB is here.

[SirBobcat]

I think LB is definitely gone if they go to rebuild.

[Fred Williamson]

We will make the playoffs. Quote me on that.

But I think LB retires when his contract expires.

[playoffs...PLAYOFFS?]

Funny..I was about to post something similar

Here are my thoughts:

While I'm usually an optimist, I do not see ourselves making it to the playoffs. I don't see Larry staying here if that is the case. He has never gone two consecutive seasons without making it to the playoffs.

While every team is getting better and making moves, we have stood there unable to address are most inmediate needs - reliable PF and C. Moreover, the SG backup position and #3 PG are both unproven players. We are just not a solid team and very far from it.

I just don't see us making it to the playoffs right now...then add on the fact that the owner is trying to sell the team and we have a situation of uncertainty where many things could go wrong.

I can see ourselves signing Sean May since we haven't been a player in the FA market....this would just further doom us with another stupid contract.

[TattoodCats4life]

This is what's funny, we speak about "blowing up the team" but frankly we did that last year... There are only what 4 guys left from Sam's team?

[jpf_v2.0]

If the Bobcats do not make the playoffs the belief that the Mayans predicted the world to end on Dec. 21st, 2012 will be proven wrong as it will happen 2 years and 8 months earlier.

[teej]

If the Bobcats do not make the playoffs the belief that the Mayans predicted the world to end on Dec. 21st, 2012 will be proven wrong as it will happen 2 years and 8 months earlier.

LOLOL

and


I don't see Larry staying here if that is the case. He has never gone two consecutive seasons without making it to the playoffs.

is further proof

I will eat a hat if we don't make the playoffs (major injury to a core player notwithstanding).

[dnbman]

You know that part in the Day After Tomorrow with the big wave?



I think it's far to soon to tell what would happen; a lot would depend on why we didn't make the playoffs. Although, I think it's a safe bet that one of our big contracts would get moved as cost cutting and rebuilding measure. In fact, if things aren't looking good at midseason, I think we'll try to move guys for youth and draft picks.

[TheBeagle]

Like dnb says, it's hard to speculate not knowing the reasons why we wouldn't've made the playoffs, but.......

I'll say there won't be any massive changes. Really, it's the same story as every year....what can we do with what we have? We have a couple pieces other teams covet, but they won't give us anything resembling fair value. I mean, we've seen some of the underwhelming names associated with GW trades over the last couple years, and he's our arguably our best player!

I don't think it'll be panic time at all. We just really need Larry's youngins (DJ, 12, UPS, and to a lesser extent this season, Lexy) to continue to develop alongside our core, and I think good things will happen.

Lord knows I hope the ownership situation is resolved by that time also, hopefully with MJ on board in some capacity. Still, I'm always cautious about what Larry will want to do. When he was at Carolina, he was my mom's favorite player as a kid, she met him a few times, gushed over him, and continued to be a fan of any team he coached, and for that reason alone, I'll always have a soft spot for Larry, but he is a damn restless soul for all his basketball genius, and I have no clue when he'll up and leave. Seriously, I was prepared for him to not to be our coach this upcoming season. I hope spectre is right in thinking that as long as MJ is here, he'll be here as well, but I don't know. Assuming MJ is still here, I think Larry will be back for the final year of his contract, and continue to build the team into a winner for the long-term, and give us a core of young guys to be the starters of tomorrow.

[BigMike]

While every team is getting better and making moves, we have stood there unable to address are most inmediate needs -

A couple of things, some of those teams making moves to get better... were so bad that ANY move made them better.
Larry made most of his moves in the middle of last season, so he didn’t have much that he wanted to change this off season. Instead the team that was hodgepodged together mid season last year will finally get few months of workouts with Larry and truly learn from him.

The team that played the final 2 months of basketball last year was a first round playoff team, above average but with issues. This year with more of those wrinkles ironed out, a significantly improved bench, players that are used to each others style, and all the other things a preseason together brings, I believe we will be a late round playoff team.
I do wish we could be real contenders but the Cavs and Lakers are just in a different world right now in teams of $$$$ and players. So we need to focus on, settling this owner crap, and having 3 – 5 years of quality late round playoffs. This will bring a larger fan base, greater financial stability and show the players on other teams that Charlotte is a good market, so they aren’t afraid to come to the black hole of the NBA in terms of sponsorships and visibility. THAT’S how you build a championship team.

[teej]

A couple of things, some of those teams making moves to get better... were so bad that ANY move made them better.

Exactly

Good to see you BigMike, where ya been?