Calling Insiders..Future Rankings 3.0

[jdsingar]

Hollinger released version 3.0 of his Future Power Rankings today. Could any insiders post the commentary on the Cats? I don't expect it to be much better than before. We still have Diop.

[Walt Cronkite]

No change:
Players and Management are 29th, Money is 30th, Market is 25th, Draft 19th

Will the Bobcats under Michael Jordan be any different than they have been under Robert Johnson? We have our doubts. Jordan is already an absentee part-owner and the head of basketball operations, and it's unclear how much financial strength his new ownership group will bring to the table. So, despite the excitement over MJ's acquisition and a potential first-ever playoff berth, the Bobcats still rank at the bottom in our Future Power Rankings. Although the team on the court has been decent this season, there's little reason for optimism going forward. Tyrus Thomas is the only young player of note, and he's already in his fourth season. The other top players, especially Stephen Jackson, are at the point where they should begin declining steadily.
Good luck bringing in more help. The Bobcats have traded two future first-round picks, and if they re-sign Thomas, they'll have no cap space in either of the next two summers. Plus, they have serious-enough luxury-tax issues that they're likely to lose guard Raymond Felton as an unrestricted free agent and be unable to use their midlevel exception in the summer. Management is a huge question mark, too -- it appears impulsive coach Larry Brown is calling many of the shots, and his track record says that's seriously dangerous.
(Previous rank: 30)

I think it's pretty fair of Ford and Hollinger. We're in "win now" mode, don't have draft picks and waste the ones we keep. Anyway, there ya go.

[spectre]

Awesome...another thread where we can bash Hollinger!

[spectre]

Seriously...kind of hard to argue with that assessment.

[jdsingar]

I'd say that is a very fair assessment, as well. This year is going well, but we could be in trouble as soon as next season. Diop, Chandler, and Diaw will create alot of dead weight in contracts. Jackson will probably be on the decline sooner or later. I'd say G-Force has two more seasons of good performance before a decline, though the mileage he is taking now could hurt in the long run.

Perhaps this is more reason to Free Gerald Henderson and see "What Brown Can Do For Us."

[BRNC]

Seriously...kind of hard to argue with that assessment.

...yes...it is...and until the organization does something to dispel it...there it is...

[TheBeagle]

No change:
Players and Management are 29th, Money is 30th, Market is 25th, Draft 19th



I think it's pretty fair of Ford and Hollinger. We're in "win now" mode, don't have draft picks and waste the ones we keep. Anyway, there ya go.

Yeah, there's really no way to argue with that I don't think. The only saving grace for the franchise is what their only saving grace has been thus far; these ratings are based on status quo, and things are rarely status quo with the Cats with the trading and such.

Still, I'm not sure how the hell "Draft" got 19th and not 30th. Maybe there's something I'm missing, but when your best picks are Mek and Raymond, and one of those is gone with the other still trying to find his way as a PG 5 years later, how the hell are we ranked 19th?!?!

[jdsingar]

Yeah, there's really no way to argue with that I don't think. The only saving grace for the franchise is what their only saving grace has been thus far; these ratings are based on status quo, and things are rarely status quo with the Cats with the trading and such.

Still, I'm not sure how the hell "Draft" got 19th and not 30th. Maybe there's something I'm missing, but when your best picks are Mek and Raymond, and one of those is gone with the other still trying to find his way as a PG 5 years later, how the hell are we ranked 19th?!?!

I think (and I may be completely off on this) but the draft ratings factor in future draft position as well as ability to draft. Of course, we give up two future first round picks, so I am not sure how that would work either.

[Toocool]

As long as we make the playoffs, I'll be happy (since Chicago can have a crappy first pick =P)

[Walt Cronkite]

As long as we make the playoffs, I'll be happy (since Chicago can have a crappy first pick =P)

If we make the playoffs (or just miss and somehow finish 13th or 14th) then our pick goes to Minnesota. Then Chicago gets out 2012 pick.