http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/marty_burns/03/09/insider/index.html
Searching high and low
As Bobcats prepare to build a team, Bernie Bickerstaff scouts up a storm
Posted: Tuesday March 9, 2004 2:46PM; Updated: Tuesday March 9, 2004 10:48PM
I've been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma, Tampa, Panama, Mattua, LaPaloma, Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo, Tocapillo, Pocatello, Amperdillo ... I've been everywhere, man. I've been everywhere, man.
-- Johnny Cash
OK, so maybe Charlotte Bobcats GM/coach Bernie Bickerstaff hasn't traveled as much as the guy in that old country tune, now heard endlessly in TV ads. But Bickerstaff and his team of scouts have been getting around as they prepare to join the NBA as the league's 30th team for the 2004-05 season.
"Peoria, Connecticut, Atlanta," Bickerstaff said, listing just a few of the places he's recently scouted players. "I've got the Big East tournament on Thursday, the ACC on Friday, the SEC on Saturday. Then we've got the NCAA tournament. We've had guys out for the past six months. We've seen all the consensus top high school guys. We've been to Europe. We've ranked all the NBA players from all 29 teams. We've got guys everywhere."
Bickerstaff's crew is working hard to prepare for two key dates in June that will go a long way toward shaping Bobcats history. The first is the NBA expansion draft, June 22 or 23 (the latter if the Finals go seven games). The other is the NBA draft, June 24.
In the expansion draft, the Bobcats must select 14 players off NBA rosters. Each team can protect up to eight players, but no team can lose more than one. In the NBA draft, the Bobcats will have the No. 4 overall pick.
Already speculation is swirling about some of the big names that might be available in the expansion draft. Brian Grant (Heat), Glenn Robinson (Sixers), Grant Hill (Magic), Penny Hardaway (Knicks), Damon Stoudamire (Blazers), Austin Croshere (Pacers), Shawn Bradley (Mavs) and Raef LaFrentz (Celtics) are among those likely to be left unprotected by their clubs. Whether Charlotte would agree to take any of those players -- and their big contracts -- is a different story.
So far the Bobcats are playing their cards close to the vest. Bickerstaff and Executive VP Ed Tapscott have said all along that they would prefer building around young players. However, Bickerstaff said Monday in a phone interview from Atlanta, where he was scouting the Cavs-Hawks game, he wouldn't rule out taking a high-priced veteran if the right guy was available.
"You've got to have some vets," Bickerstaff said. "They're the ones who teach the young guys how to be professional. But you've got to have the right kind of vets, the guys who understand their roles. A lot of teams are saying they're just going to put big money players out there. We've said all along if that player will make a difference for our team we're going to have to seriously consider taking him."
As Bickerstaff points out, those veteran types also could be valuable trade assets for Charlotte to ship to contending teams seeking a player to push them over the hump. As far as trade guidelines, the Bobcats will have near carte blanche during the expansion draft. They can pick players for other teams, and then redirect them via trade, or agree not to select certain players. In return, teams can offer Charlotte draft picks and up to $3 million cash.
For example, let's say the Suns wanted to clear more cap room in order to make a run at Kobe Bryant this summer. Phoenix might be able to convince the Bobcats to select Howard Eisley or Jahidi White by giving them a first-round draft pick and cash. Or maybe a particularly deep team like the Grizzlies could work a deal with the Bobcats not to select, say, Stromile Swift or Earl Watson. It's all perfectly legal.
"It's going to be interesting to see what they're going to do," said Sonics GM Rick Sund. "They have some flexibility. I'm sure a lot of teams will be calling them."
Bickerstaff can't comment on individual players. Per NBA rules, he can't even talk to other clubs until May 5. Not until then can he get on the phone and start listening to offers and sorting through all the "misinformation" and "skullduggery."
For now, Bickerstaff just has to continue packing his suitcase, hitting the road and looking for that proverbial diamond in the rough. Atlanta on Tuesday, New York City on Wednesday, perhaps Pocatello next week.
"We're trying to cover all the scenarios, all the possibilities," Bickerstaff said. "The one thing we've had is time. That's been the great thing. We've got scouting reports on everybody."
Searching high and low
As Bobcats prepare to build a team, Bernie Bickerstaff scouts up a storm
Posted: Tuesday March 9, 2004 2:46PM; Updated: Tuesday March 9, 2004 10:48PM
I've been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma, Tampa, Panama, Mattua, LaPaloma, Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo, Tocapillo, Pocatello, Amperdillo ... I've been everywhere, man. I've been everywhere, man.
-- Johnny Cash
OK, so maybe Charlotte Bobcats GM/coach Bernie Bickerstaff hasn't traveled as much as the guy in that old country tune, now heard endlessly in TV ads. But Bickerstaff and his team of scouts have been getting around as they prepare to join the NBA as the league's 30th team for the 2004-05 season.
"Peoria, Connecticut, Atlanta," Bickerstaff said, listing just a few of the places he's recently scouted players. "I've got the Big East tournament on Thursday, the ACC on Friday, the SEC on Saturday. Then we've got the NCAA tournament. We've had guys out for the past six months. We've seen all the consensus top high school guys. We've been to Europe. We've ranked all the NBA players from all 29 teams. We've got guys everywhere."
Bickerstaff's crew is working hard to prepare for two key dates in June that will go a long way toward shaping Bobcats history. The first is the NBA expansion draft, June 22 or 23 (the latter if the Finals go seven games). The other is the NBA draft, June 24.
In the expansion draft, the Bobcats must select 14 players off NBA rosters. Each team can protect up to eight players, but no team can lose more than one. In the NBA draft, the Bobcats will have the No. 4 overall pick.
Already speculation is swirling about some of the big names that might be available in the expansion draft. Brian Grant (Heat), Glenn Robinson (Sixers), Grant Hill (Magic), Penny Hardaway (Knicks), Damon Stoudamire (Blazers), Austin Croshere (Pacers), Shawn Bradley (Mavs) and Raef LaFrentz (Celtics) are among those likely to be left unprotected by their clubs. Whether Charlotte would agree to take any of those players -- and their big contracts -- is a different story.
So far the Bobcats are playing their cards close to the vest. Bickerstaff and Executive VP Ed Tapscott have said all along that they would prefer building around young players. However, Bickerstaff said Monday in a phone interview from Atlanta, where he was scouting the Cavs-Hawks game, he wouldn't rule out taking a high-priced veteran if the right guy was available.
"You've got to have some vets," Bickerstaff said. "They're the ones who teach the young guys how to be professional. But you've got to have the right kind of vets, the guys who understand their roles. A lot of teams are saying they're just going to put big money players out there. We've said all along if that player will make a difference for our team we're going to have to seriously consider taking him."
As Bickerstaff points out, those veteran types also could be valuable trade assets for Charlotte to ship to contending teams seeking a player to push them over the hump. As far as trade guidelines, the Bobcats will have near carte blanche during the expansion draft. They can pick players for other teams, and then redirect them via trade, or agree not to select certain players. In return, teams can offer Charlotte draft picks and up to $3 million cash.
For example, let's say the Suns wanted to clear more cap room in order to make a run at Kobe Bryant this summer. Phoenix might be able to convince the Bobcats to select Howard Eisley or Jahidi White by giving them a first-round draft pick and cash. Or maybe a particularly deep team like the Grizzlies could work a deal with the Bobcats not to select, say, Stromile Swift or Earl Watson. It's all perfectly legal.
"It's going to be interesting to see what they're going to do," said Sonics GM Rick Sund. "They have some flexibility. I'm sure a lot of teams will be calling them."
Bickerstaff can't comment on individual players. Per NBA rules, he can't even talk to other clubs until May 5. Not until then can he get on the phone and start listening to offers and sorting through all the "misinformation" and "skullduggery."
For now, Bickerstaff just has to continue packing his suitcase, hitting the road and looking for that proverbial diamond in the rough. Atlanta on Tuesday, New York City on Wednesday, perhaps Pocatello next week.
"We're trying to cover all the scenarios, all the possibilities," Bickerstaff said. "The one thing we've had is time. That's been the great thing. We've got scouting reports on everybody."
