To Get 2012 Draft Right - Look to 2013 Draft

[CharlotteHornets]

If the Bobcats are going to stay committed to building through the draft they need to look forward to the 2013 Draft to determine what to do with the #2 Overall Pick this year. Hopefully, the Bobcats will do that.

In 2013 there is an elite SG - Shabbazz Muhammad who will certainly be a Top 5 pick unless he is a huge disappointment in college which is highly doubtful. Then the next best players are 6'11 PF Nerlens Noel, 6'11 PF Cody Zeller, 6'9 PF James McAdoo, 6'9 PF Alex Polythress, and 7'0 C Isaiah Austin.

Beyond Davis in this years draft the next top players, Beal is an undersized SG, Robinson is an undersized PF, and Drummond and PJIII are huge risks.

So this year I believe you take the best available SF because I believe it is a lock the Bobcats will be picking in the Top 5 again next season. Therefore, Charlotte evaluates MKG and Barnes and makes what they believe is the right choice.

Then, in 2013 if you can draft an elite scorer like Muhammad then you go for a big-time post player through Free Agency in 2013. If you decide to take a big man in the 2013 Draft like Noel, Zeller, or McAdoo then you try to get an elite scorer in Free Agency.

I think thats how Cho and the Cats have to approach things now! I personally believe you get a piece in this draft and there are potentially 3 to 5 franchise playersin the 2013 Draft!

[Whiz Kid]

Agree.

Draft Barnes or MKG. Then hope Fab Melo falls to us for our 2nd round pick. Then sign Antawn Jamison. Then go on from there. In my opinion this is our best option right now.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Just say no to MKG. His single greatest attributes are that he's a "winner" at the Wing who "plays hard". Sounds like a somewhat better version of Corey Brewer(2 nat'l titles), which I wouldn't want at #2.

Trade down and MAYBE get Barnes at 6 along with another lottery pick if you want a SF so bad.

I would just go BPA(s) though wherever we end up with picks. Our current core stinks and we really have no way of knowing who will comprise the top 5 in 2013. A lot can change. Muhammed is a safe bet, but beyond him?.....

[polarcat]

I understand the MKG knock, but Barnes has his issues too. A scorer that can fill the stat sheet, but prefers the 3-ball and lacks that "go-to" leadership quality that #2 picks have. If there was some way to use a combinator machine and merge MKG with Barnes, you would have an elite All-Star SF that would rival the 'Melo's and King James' of the NBA.

[CharlotteHornets]

I think MKG is a 15ppg 8rpg 4ast 2.5stl 1.5blk - I think Barnes is 19ppg 6rpg 40%+ from 3..if he can really improve his ball handling and gain confidence I think he could be even better than that.

Then you use what I think will be a Top 3 pick in 2013 on a franchise big man like I believe Noel, Zeller, and McAdoo could be and then with the Trail Blazers 1st Rd pick between #15-18 on a SG like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, PJ Hairston, or Reggie Bullock - all great shooters with good size for the SG position.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

I think MKG is a 15ppg 8rpg 4ast 2.5stl 1.5blk - I think Barnes is 19ppg 6rpg 40%+ from 3..if he can really improve his ball handling and gain confidence I think he could be even better than that.

Then you use what I think will be a Top 3 pick in 2013 on a franchise big man like I believe Noel, Zeller, and McAdoo could be and then with the Trail Blazers 1st Rd pick between #15-18 on a SG like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, PJ Hairston, or Reggie Bullock - all great shooters with good size for the SG position.

MKG only averaged 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks in 30+ minutes in college. Why do you think he will average even more in the pros??

I see Barnes averaging 15 points a game for 8 straight years. Very solid.

I tend to err on the conservative side when predicting a player's stats. I've been burned way too many times, dating back over two decades of draft assessment.

[CharlotteHornets]

MKG only averaged 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks in 30+ minutes in college. Why do you think he will average even more in the pros??

I see Barnes averaging 15 points a game for 8 straight years. Very solid.

I tend to err on the conservative side when predicting a player's stats. I've been burned way too many times, dating back over two decades of draft assessment.

I think MKG's stats will go up on the defensive side b/c he will just learn more about playing the game...he has the athleticism, tenacity, and motor that will allow him to become a great defensive player. You may be right about Barnes, but I believe if he becomes a better ball handler (which he should) his scoring ability will improve greatly!

[westbrook08]

I hate to say it but i would personally take drummond.I think he just has too much upside of being a franchise center to pass on.I know people are gonna bring up kwame brown, but andre is is already light years ahead of him in blocking shots and guarding the pick and roll and kwame was just too far inside his own head.He's admitted that before.And then on top of that he got hurt a few times and really hasn't been the same.I think you have to take this guy! I would draft drummond,go after nick batum with guns blazing in free agency and hope for muhammed next year.i think that would be a very good young team.My hope is that we could trade down and get him @ 6 and take lillard @ 11.You can can tell by my screen name that i'm a huge russell westbrook fan.And i really think damian lillard has a chance to be that type of player.Although i think once workouts start he's gonna go higher than 11.If we got 6 and 11 i actually wouldn't mind taking lillard @6 and quincy miller @ 11.Miller was young and hurt last year,but i think his upside is incredible.I think he and lillard could potentially be our durant and westbrook. My ultimate dream would be trading down for 6 and 11,getting drummond and liilard ,and somehow making a trade for an expiring or future pick and getting miller in the teens.It's very unlikely,but i would totally shit! lol.Just a thought.Go cats!

[dnbman]

I hate the idea of drafting for next year. I understand the logic behind it, but as we just saw, there's no guarantee on who's coming out in the draft or what pick we get. Picking a player based on who would could potentially pick next year is a terrible idea.

We take the best player this year. Next year we take the best player we can get. If we stock up on similar positions, so be it. We need great talent, and can't draft a guy for position just to keep a space for a complete unknown in next year's draft.

[TheBeagle]

I hate the idea of drafting for next year. I understand the logic behind it, but as we just saw, there's no guarantee on who's coming out in the draft or what pick we get. Picking a player based on who would could potentially pick next year is a terrible idea.

We take the best player this year. Next year we take the best player we can get. If we stock up on similar positions, so be it. We need great talent, and can't draft a guy for position just to keep a space for a complete unknown in next year's draft.

Yeah. Always take best player because we are in the assets acquisition department and that's the smartest thing to do. These assets become great players or solid players and they can either serve us on the court or as trade bait.

That being said, with us being top 3 in the draft again next year I can't help but look ahead to Shabazz and the others, and hell even Jabari Parker in '14 if we can't land a star in '13. Have to look ahead cause the present is painful.


And thank you for that signature, CharlotteHornets: God Bless America indeed!!!