Your current thoughts on MKG

[fan_of_a_fan]

I think MKG can coexist with Henderson as long as Mullens and Kemba are hitting their outside shots.

One thing I noticed at the Wizards game: Henderson was comfortably going down on the block to post up guys, by design. Gerald is an average-sized 2, but he has terrific length and is entering his physical prime. If you post G-Hen, and have Mully and Kemba on the outside, maybe you can have the slashing MKG in that mix as well. Hopefully. Obviously that crew will have to run in order score a lot.

Henderson going to the post to imitate his idol, Kobe Bryant, will only work in two instances: if he can score efficiently enough to force a double team and if Dunlap was running the Triangle Offense. I don't see neither of those things happening, so I don't see Henderson predominantly being used in the post as a successful option. I have faithfully watched the Bobcats for the past four seasons via NBA League Pass and the only constant I have seen in this team's downfall offensively is the decision to try to make Henderson a "go-to guy" the past season & a half, especially the horrendously slow starts to the 1st & 3rd quarters.

I'm sorry, but now that I've got that rant out of the way, we don't want to rely on Kemba and Mullens being 3-point threats. That has all of the makings for this disastrous offense to continue. Reasons are because Mullens is just learning to take his shooting range to that distance this offseason due to Dunlap's insistence and is a career 24% at doing so while Kemba is already struggling with his FG% to the point where you don't want to depend on him taking the least efficient shot on the floor on most of his attempts.

I want to see the team start the season with Kemba/Gordon/MKG/Mullens/Haywood as the starters, and I promise you will see an increase in MKG's overall play. This team need as much offensive firepower on the court as possible and my aforementioned lineup will do so sans probably Haywood. The lineup will put two slashers with playmaking ability in Kemba & MKG on the floor with two deep threats in Gordon & Mullens to complement each other offensively. I like the idea of Sessions and Henderson off the bench as game managers instead of dictators of pace to start off games and halves. All of this said, we must spread the floor for MKG to be most successful.

[kitch0202]

To be honest a number 2 pick shouldn't need pieces around him to succeed, he should be successful enough to be able to impose himself on any team

The only point I'd make to counter your statement is that he is the youngest player in the league. So with that in mind, combined with his supposed work-ethic, there ought to be plenty of potential for improvement there. Were he not ridiculously young I would entirely agree with you.

He has really good court vision...maybe being a semi point/forward is in his future.

You could well be right spectre and if that is the case then that's great, but it still means we'll have to have some quality outside shooting coming from the other wing. At least if he does end up as a point/forward he can help take the pressure of kemba or whoever is our PG down the road.

Whatever happens I think it's going to be fun watching him develop his skills and mature as a player.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Henderson going to the post to imitate his idol, Kobe Bryant, will only work in two instances: if he can score efficiently enough to force a double team and if Dunlap was running the Triangle Offense. I don't see neither of those things happening, so I don't see Henderson predominantly being used in the post as a successful option. I have faithfully watched the Bobcats for the past four seasons via NBA League Pass and the only constant I have seen in this team's downfall offensively is the decision to try to make Henderson a "go-to guy" the past season & a half, especially the horrendously slow starts to the 1st & 3rd quarters.

I'm sorry, but now that I've got that rant out of the way, we don't want to rely on Kemba and Mullens being 3-point threats. That has all of the makings for this disastrous offense to continue. Reasons are because Mullens is just learning to take his shooting range to that distance this offseason due to Dunlap's insistence and is a career 24% at doing so while Kemba is already struggling with his FG% to the point where you don't want to depend on him taking the least efficient shot on the floor on most of his attempts.

I want to see the team start the season with Kemba/Gordon/MKG/Mullens/Haywood as the starters, and I promise you will see an increase in MKG's overall play. This team need as much offensive firepower on the court as possible and my aforementioned lineup will do so sans probably Haywood. The lineup will put two slashers with playmaking ability in Kemba & MKG on the floor with two deep threats in Gordon & Mullens to complement each other offensively. I like the idea of Sessions and Henderson off the bench as game managers instead of dictators of pace to start off games and halves. All of this said, we must spread the floor for MKG to be most successful.

Walker/Gordon/MKG/Mullens/Haywood works for me. Small backcourt, but then you make up for it a bit with a big frontline.

I'm more optimistic about Henderson than most. He took a while to develop at Duke, improving every year, and maybe the same thing is happening in the NBA, after limited playing time his first two seasons. He looked really good in that Wizard game, and Dunlap annointed him captain due to his offseason work ethic. I'm hoping that work ethic translates to a more complete offensive skill set. Fingers crossed that he is a better player this year.

I see a 3-point shooting big like Mullens as more like 1.5 outside shooting threats, because he draws a big defender out of the lane, hopefully opening things up for our slasher-style wings.

I guess it comes down to whether or not we want to win games now(with Gordon getting 32 minutes a night), or try to patiently improve the younger Henderson, even though he doesn't complement MKG/Walker as well.

[fan_of_a_fan]

I guess it comes down to whether or not we want to win games now(with Gordon getting 32 minutes a night), or try to patiently improve the younger Henderson, even though he doesn't complement MKG/Walker as well.

If the decision boils down to being (A.) sympathetic enough to allow Henderson to try to improve in a wait & see approach or (B.) maximizing the development of the youngsters, MKG & Walker, I would easily choose the latter without regret.

[kitch0202]

If the decision boils down to being (A.) sympathetic enough to allow Henderson to try to improve in a wait & see approach or (B.) maximizing the development of the youngsters, MKG & Walker, I would easily choose the latter without regret.

Bringing up Kemba is extremely pertinent. If he were to spend the majority of his minutes with Gordon as his fellow guard then he ought not feel the need to take too many shots. Personally I think Hendo & Gordon need to see fairly equal time, with the hope being that Hendo can develop consistent range. If by, let's say, mid-season Hendo hasn't improved in this aspect of his game then maybe Gordon becomes the guy for the sake of Kemba's & MKG's game. The downside to that is that we would effectively be acknowledging that Hendo definitely isn't our guy and, as we'll surely look to trade Gordon's expiring after this season, we'll be at square one on the SG front ... unless Jeff can show some promise of course.

[Veteran_Picksetter]

Nothing insightful here, but if you do the math....

Giving Gordon AND Henderson each 30 minutes a night means you have to play Hendo at the "3" for 12 minutes a night. This is assuming Gordon never runs the point, as Sessions and Kemba likely have those minutes locked up.

Call me crazy, but I am a bigger fan of Henderson's potential than Kemba's. For better or worse, I tend to value length and athleticism.

Hendo did not reach an 82-game total of starters minutes in his career until some point last season. He had that one offseason where he had to sit because of the hip correction surgery, instead of working on his game. I guess I just have a special patience for him.

I suppose MKG is the most important prospect to develop at this time, but at least he is super young with plenty of time to do so.

[fan_of_a_fan]

I agree with your assessment that both Hendo & Gordon need to see fairly equal time, and I feel the same way about Kemba & Sessions. With that said, I want to see the backcourt duo that complement each other on the floor with each other as much as possible (i.e. Kemba/Gordon & Sessions/Hendo). As far as being back at square one on the SG front if Hendo doesn't pan out the way we want, I believe that the intentions are to by chance draft Shabazz Muhammad to be the future at that position next year. With the deadline to extend players coming to the end of their rookie contracts approaching this upcoming Wednesday, I don't expect the Bobcats' front office to give Hendo that extension being that I haven't heard/read about any kind of negotiation talks and his recent play hasn't necessarily brewed up anything but pessimism. Even though winning isn't the necessary goal for this team in the immediate future, I don't think they have the room or perception of the public to tamper with if's and maybe's. The sole reason why they drafted MKG over Drummond was because they didn't want to take risks on development. It's already becoming an embarrassment to me as a Bobcats fan that MKG's potential may go untapped this season due to the hopes of Hendo's minimal improvement.

[SJackson1]

Henderson must play at least 30 mins a game this season becasue he's our all round best player. He shot 46% from the field last season and he will only improve as he gains more experience in the league. I would like MKG to get 30 mins aswell becasue i think he's got one of the best motors in the NBA and it would be good for him to get plenty of minutes early on in his career.

[BrotherDave]

He's a project that will take time to figure it all out. With his current skill set, he needs to bulk up considerably (really, just grow into a man). I think he can be a young Ron Artest with better IQ and none of the crazy.

Good handle, good offensive/defensive awareness, flair for passing and facilitating, awful shot, good if not great athlete. With his motor and hustle, should quietly fill the stat sheet more often than not.

[fan_of_a_fan]

Call me crazy, but I am a bigger fan of Henderson's potential than Kemba's. For better or worse, I tend to value length and athleticism.

I'm not going to call you crazy, but if you look at the outlook of the next two NBA drafts, there isn't a PG projected in the top 5 or even projected within the lottery point blank period. Outside of the lottery, there isn't a PG that I would even dare to consider a replacement for Kemba without thinking I'm crazy. Unfortunately for Henderson, he plays a dime a dozen position that has a plethora of talent coming out of college within the next two years. In 2013, you have Shabazz Muhammad, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and maybe Lorenzo Brown. In 2014, you have Andrew Wiggins, James Young, the Harrison twins, and Marcus Smart. I like Henderson too, but his potential is about floor level compared to what 2013 and 2014 has to offer.