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2009-10 Record: 44-38
Additions: Kwame Brown (FA), Shaun Livingston (FA), Dominic McGuire (FA), Sherron Collins (FA), Matt Carroll (Trade), Eduardo Najera (Trade)
Subtractions: Raymond Felton, Tyson Chandler, Alexis Ajinca, Stephen Graham, Theo Ratliff, Larry Hughes
Charlotte bullied their way into the playoffs and an above .500 record last year by living on defense. They traded for the disgruntled Stephen Jackson too, who provided a much needed offensive spark, and together with an All-Star year from Gerald Wallace, this team was actually pretty good. They still weren't all that great on offense, but they had the best defensive rating in the NBA, and held their opponents to the lowest scoring in the NBA (93.8).
But the moves the Bobcats have made this summer have been a little perplexing to me. They needed to get out of the tax, so they traded Tyson Chandler (expiring contract) and project Alexis Ajinca to Dallas for Erick Dampier's unguaranteed contract, and the bad deals of Matt Carroll and Eduardo Najera. By waiving Dampier, they got out of the tax, but their talent base is ultimately weaker, even if Chandler never played because of injury and Ajinca hadn't panned out yet.
Losing Raymond Felton also really hurts, although that wasn't as much Charlotte's fault since he was an Unrestricted Free Agent and left for the bright lights of New York. Still it leaves Charlotte with a question mark at the Point Guard position. Felton was a great defender and slasher, and now he's being replaced by a poor defender but great shooter in D.J. Augustin. This could be good for Charlotte's offense if Augustin breaks out, but Larry Brown usually likes to play the defender first. Charlotte also brought in Shaun Livingston, who had a nice year in Washington, and if he can continue to get back into game shape, could be a really solid backup point guard for quite a while.
A lot of people mocked the Bobcats for bringing in Kwame Brown, because of the Michael connection, but I actually think its a solid signing. For all of Kwame's faults, he's become a decent defender and rebounder, and although he should never be expected to provided any offense, he's a better backup center option than say DeSagna Diop (who might end up being Charlotte's starting center this year. Ugh.)
There other pickups were alright. I had a chance to watch Dominic McGuire last year in Sacramento for a little bit, and he's a good rebounder and perimeter defender, but his shot is really iffy. So basically Charlotte is the perfect team for him. Sherron Collins went undrafted, probably because he's only 5'11 but weighs the same as Tyreke Evans. If he gets in shape though, he can be a good 2nd or 3rd guard in this league.
I'm not really sold on the direction of this franchise and I don't know what Michael's plan for the team is, if he has a plan at all. The rumored addition of Devin Harris in that now broken Carmelo Anthony-to-the-Nets deal would have been nice, but would it have really propelled them past the first round? Their contract situation is also untenable, and its mostly their fault. Trading for Stephen Jackson was all well and good, but he still has 3 years and almost 30 million. Diop has 3 years, $20 million left, Wallace has 3 years and $31 million, Diaw has 2 years and $18 million, Carroll has 3 years and $12 million, and Tyrus Thomas has 5 years and $40 million left. Tyrus was a bit of a headscratcher. Sure he played alright for you last year in the two-three months that you had him, so you award a player that wasn't able to be consistent for 4 years and might be a headcase with a 5 year, $40 million contract? They didn't even start him last year.
Despite the loss in overall talent level, I think this team could still threaten for a lower rung playoff spot in the East on the back of their still solid defense, and they also have the potential for a couple breakout players in Augustin and Thomas. Wallace will need another All-Star level year, and Cap'n Jack needs to stay not crazy again, but they can do it, even if the East is tougher this year.
Projected Win Range: 40-45
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