Hooped Up

For some reason, the Clippers want to be competitive and I still find it weird. Call me old fashion but in my day, the Clippers lost and we all liked it and our Internet was slow dammit!

“The Clippers just made a trade to bring power forward Zach Randolph to the team to replace the void left when Elton Brand left town.  With Kaman, Randolph, and Marcus Camby in the frontcourt, the Clips might be looking to unload one of their big men to get a dynamic shooting guard in return. 

This could give them the potential starting five of Camby, Randolph, Al Thornton, Richardson, and Baron Davis which would help them climb out of the western conference cellar.”

Bleacher Report

If Bob Johnson is interested in selling his majority share of the Bobcats pie, it looks like he’ll have a taker in minority owner and legend Michael Jordan. 

“Michael Jordan said Friday night that he would like to become majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats when and if current owner Bob Johnson decides to sell the team. In an exclusive interview with the Observer, Jordan said “sure, sure” when asked if he would one day want to increase his minority stake in the Bobcats to a majority share. Said Jordan: “When Bob wants to step aside, I have no problem stepping in and saying, ‘Hey, look, I’d love to take control of this franchise.’ But Bob, he’s not at that point now. He still enjoys owning the basketball team.” 

Charlotte Observer

Since coming to the league in 2006, the only thing Adam Morrison has been known for is his ability to grow hair and play increadibly bad defense.  Could a trade help?  

“Adam Morrison got about $5 million richer Wednesday and – at least by the technicalities of NBA rules – a little easier to trade. The Charlotte Bobcats exercised contract options for next season on Morrison ($5.257 million) and Jared Dudley ($1.307 million). Had the Bobcats not exercised those options by Oct. 31, both would have become unrestricted free agents in July. ”

Charlotte Observer

Basketball operations went unscathed, but the rest of the Charlotte Bobcats organization went through a significant work-force reduction Friday. Bobcats management declined to specify how many employees were laid off, but a source with close ties to the team pegged the number at roughly 35. Team president Fred Whitfield said the team hired a consultant to compare the Bobcats’ work force with those from NBA teams in comparable markets, such as Indianapolis, Memphis and Milwaukee. These cuts were in part a result of that study. “We looked at every piece of our business operation,” Whitfield said Friday afternoon. Whitfield said the team provided severance packages and is in contact with NASCAR and Fox Sports Net, looking to help displaced employees find other positions. The Bobcats took these steps as they approach their fifth season in a tepid market and a weak economy. Whitfield said in a prepared statement Friday morning that “we must become more efficient as a business in this economic climate.”

Charlotte Observer

It’s not exactly a pay cut but, $2 million dollars left on the table it still  $2 million dollars left on the table.  Then again, it looks like Okafor has just found his reason for leaving the Bobcats to join a real contender.

Emeka Okafor was once offered over $12 million a season. Now, according to a source I consider credible, the Bobcats offer is much closer to a $10 million-a-season average.

Charlotte Observer

A source with knowledge of the negotiations says Emeka Okafor is ready to move on, rather than accept what the Charlotte Bobcats have offered long-term for his services. The Bobcats can hold on to him for next season, but perhaps the best way to preserve value is to arrange a sign-and-trade.

Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace wasn’t surprised his name was in trade discussions. In fact, he figures most every name on the roster is in play.The Bobcats talked to the Toronto Raptors leading up to the draft about a deal that could have involved Wallace and then-Raptors point guard T.J. Ford. The Raptors instead moved Ford to the Indiana Pacers in a deal for Jermaine O’Neal. 

Charlotte Observer 

Larry Brown has big plans for Emeka Okafor. The new Charlotte Bobcats coach is hoping he’ll get to work with him.

With contract talks involving the restricted free agent moving slowly, Brown made it clear Thursday it’s important the Bobcats keep their starting big man.

“I hope that it works out because I was with him a little while and he’s a terrific kid,” said Brown, who coached Okafor on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team. “He plays a position that’s very hard to find. And he’s the second pick in the draft. I’m sure we’ll do what’s right. Hopefully he’ll be here.”

Okafor turned down a contract offer from Charlotte last summer worth more than US$12 million a year.

Press Release 

Derrick Rose is going home, and a record crowd of freshmen are following him to the NBA. The Chicago Bulls selected Rose, who grew up on the city’s South Side, with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft Thursday night, choosing the Memphis guard over Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.  Below are the rest of the NBA draft results.

Round 1 NBA Draft Results

Second round results after the jump Read the rest of this entry »