Mock Draft: Charlotte is on the clock!

With the #4 pick in the 2004 NBA draft, the Charlotte Bobcats select...


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elindholm

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1. Orlando -- Emeka Okafor
2. L. A. Clippers -- Dwight Howard
3. Chicago -- Luol Deng

4. Charlotte
5. Washington
6. Atlanta
7. Phoenix
8. Toronto
9. Philadelphia
10. Cleveland
11. Golden State
12. Seattle
13. Portland
14. Utah
15. Boston
16. Utah
17. Atlanta
18. New Orleans
19. Miami
20. Denver
21. Utah
22. New Jersey
23. Portland
24. Boston
25. Boston
26. Sacramento
27. L. A. Lakers
28. San Antonio
29. Indiana
 

JerkFace

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this pick is when things will start to get interesting
 

thegrahamcrackr

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I went with Iguodala.

He seems to climbing fast, and blew away Charlotte. I thought about Josh Smith here as well, but he jsut didn't seem to impress them much.

Childress is still a possibility, but my real dark horse is Livingston. From what I have read, he may wind up being the best player in the draft 5 years from now. The Bobcats have more time than anyone to let the player develop, so I would assume they would look at the HS kids.


edit: I really don't like the idea of Andre going this high. It just doesn't seem right to me. I guess it is starting to look like he will creep into the top 5.

BTW, how long has it been since a college player, who wasn't overly spectacular, went from a maybe lotto prospect, to an apparent top 5 lock??
 
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elindholm

elindholm

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I'm thinking Livingston is unlikely. The Bobcats aren't going to get much out the expansion draft, so they want someone who is ready to contribute now. With Livingston, the franchise would have to ask their fans to wait at least a year or two before seeing anything to get excited about. That just seems too risky.

I'm leaning toward Gordon because he seems like he'd be a good player to build around, and he'll have substantial name recognition from the NCAA tournament. Given his college experience, he's probably also ready to start leading a new team right away.

But I haven't decided for sure yet.
 

JCSunsfan

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This is an interesting pick. It has significance simply because it is the first pick in a franchise's history.

I asked myself, if I was making the first pick of my franchise's history right here, who would I pick?

I can't see a foriegn center.

Josh Smith seems to be the only player with the potential superstar appeal. But he is such a risk.

If I was Charlotte, I'd try to trade up.
 

Sunshooter

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Shawn Livingston.

High school player.He can grow up in a new team.
 

Errntknght

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I picked Livingston but if I were building the team I'd try to get a 'big'. My first choice would be to strike some kind of a deal with the Clips in the Expansion Draft or following it which netted the #2 pick. Maybe I have another pick from someone to put with my #4 so the Clips can get Podkolzine and a PG, assuming that's who they want... the idea being to get Howard. Failing that I'd probably take Biedrins, though if I have other picks I might take Livingston and gamble on getting a 'big' later or maybe two of them.
 

George O'Brien

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The Livingston rumors remain pretty strong although I remain skeptical that he will produce much for a while. The stories I've read suggest that there is a "faction" within the Bobcats organization that is really pushing for Livingston, but there are others that prefer other people.

At this point, I suspect they will not make a decision until the expansion draft. Why take Livingston if you can start Eisley? :wave:
 
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elindholm

elindholm

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bump

Again, I'll be a bit late tonight moving ahead to the next pick.
 

sly fly

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I went with Josh Smith.

Just have a feeling that Charlotte will gamble that Smith turns out to be the "Second Coming".

No other player stands out and screams "building block".

(I would be SHOCKED if Charlotte took a Euro.)
 

Joe Mama

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sly fly said:
I went with Josh Smith.

Just have a feeling that Charlotte will gamble that Smith turns out to be the "Second Coming".

No other player stands out and screams "building block".

(I would be SHOCKED if Charlotte took a Euro.)


I really don't think there's anyway Charlotte is going to take Josh Smith after their GM questioned his effort and attitude to the media after their workout. That's not the best way to start a relationship with the player.

Joe Mama
 

sly fly

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Joe Mama said:
I really don't think there's anyway Charlotte is going to take Josh Smith after their GM questioned his effort and attitude to the media after their workout. That's not the best way to start a relationship with the player.

Joe Mama

Ahhh, did not know that.

Glad I have you here to set me straight! :D

cough....smokescreen....cough.
 

pokerface

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elindholm said:
I'm thinking Livingston is unlikely. The Bobcats aren't going to get much out the expansion draft, so they want someone who is ready to contribute now. With Livingston, the franchise would have to ask their fans to wait at least a year or two before seeing anything to get excited about. That just seems too risky.


Are you serious? Everyone takes it for granted an expansion is going to blow when it first starts up. This would be the perfect team to take on Livingston and give him time to mature.
 
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elindholm

elindholm

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Everyone takes it for granted an expansion is going to blow when it first starts up.

Sure. But wouldn't you rather blow with an impressive young star than with a vague prospect who sits at the end of the bench?
 

pokerface

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elindholm said:
Everyone takes it for granted an expansion is going to blow when it first starts up.

Sure. But wouldn't you rather blow with an impressive young star than with a vague prospect who sits at the end of the bench?


What draft list are you looking at? What impressive young star would be at #4? I would think they would want someone with the most upside to have a chance at a legitimate star...eventually.
 
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elindholm

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What draft list are you looking at? What impressive young star would be at #4?

I'm not sure why you're picking a fight about this. I think it's a virtual certainty that Gordon will have a bigger impact next year than Livingston. I haven't seen Livingston play, but if he's anywhere near as far along as Gordon is, then the scouting reports on him are completely wrong.

In my opinion, Gordon is probably one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft, and I think he could put up very nice numbers for an expansion team. Livingston is going to take time, no matter what team he's on.
 

pokerface

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elindholm said:
What draft list are you looking at? What impressive young star would be at #4?

I'm not sure why you're picking a fight about this. I think it's a virtual certainty that Gordon will have a bigger impact next year than Livingston. I haven't seen Livingston play, but if he's anywhere near as far along as Gordon is, then the scouting reports on him are completely wrong.

In my opinion, Gordon is probably one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft, and I think he could put up very nice numbers for an expansion team. Livingston is going to take time, no matter what team he's on.

I dont know if I'd list Gordon as an "impressive young star". Thats different than NBA ready which is your other description.

Anyway, I think an expansion team needs to take some chances..especially since they're starting from ground zero. Livingston seems like a good chance at eventual stardom. At the very least he could create serious matchup problems.
 

hcsilla

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Based on the scouting reports Livingston will not create any matchup problems for anyone in the next several years. He is one of the most overhyped players on the draft.
 

pokerface

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hcsilla said:
Based on the scouting reports Livingston will not create any matchup problems for anyone in the next several years. He is one of the most overhyped players on the draft.


So what if it took several years...I mean its to be expected when one comes out of highschool....takes time. Better that then someone who is more "NBA ready" and peaks out into stinking Howard Eisley or something.
 

Joe Mama

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sly fly said:
cough....smokescreen....cough.

I'm sure you are just joking around, but for argument's sake could this be a smokescreen? I don't think so. I don't think you go to the media and tell them a player is not mature enough to put forth a strong effort into workout if you really want to draft him.

hcsilla said:
Based on the scouting reports Livingston will not create any matchup problems for anyone in the next several years. He is one of the most overhyped players on the draft.

Thank you. He has trouble scoring from the perimeter, and he is incredibly skinny. If he is really as good as they say at passing the ball he could probably come in and put up some decent masses numbers. However I don't think he would make his team better when he was on the floor. He's not going to be a big threat to score, and he's going to get abused on defense.

pokerface said:
So what if it took several years...I mean its to be expected when one comes out of highschool....takes time. Better that then someone who is more "NBA ready" and peaks out into stinking Howard Eisley or something.

I think they will go with a sure thing even if it means the upside isn't quite as high. The last thing you want to do is start off an expansion franchise with a bust. You want someone that is going to come in and contribute right away to increase fan interest.

Joe Mama
 

slinslin

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Joe Mama said:
Thank you. He has trouble scoring from the perimeter, and he is incredibly skinny. If he is really as good as they say at passing the ball he could probably come in and put up some decent masses numbers. However I don't think he would make his team better when he was on the floor. He's not going to be a big threat to score, and he's going to get abused on defense.

Cough....TJ Ford.. cough
 

Joe Mama

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slinslin said:
Cough....TJ Ford.. cough

TJ Ford's biggest asset aside from his court vision is his speed. I guarantee Livingston isn't half as fast as Ford. Ford also played two years of college basketball and proved himself as one of the best players in the country. Even with that quickness he was still regularly taken advantage of by opposing defenses. Like Livingston, one of the knocks on Ford was that he was not a good shooter. He shot around 38% last year.

BTW TJ Ford is 165 pounds. That's only 10 pounds less than Livingston who is 7-8 inches taller than Ford.

Perhaps someday Livingston will be a great point guard. Scouts seem to think so. I just have a hard time believing he's really going to be able to do much his rookie year.

Joe Mama
 

pokerface

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Joe Mama said:
Perhaps someday Livingston will be a great point guard. Scouts seem to think so. I just have a hard time believing he's really going to be able to do much his rookie year.

Joe Mama

If the Bobcats have any kind of vision or patience they'll take Livingston and not care if their new team has a few more wins...they'll blow regardless so whats the difference. If the Bobcats have 20 or 25 wins I doubt the fans will act any differently.
 
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