Charlotte Bobcats

Alex Len is literally everything you want in a big and the Bobcats are in desperate need of one. He can post up, face up, hit the bank, hit a long range 2, pass out of the double team INCREDIBLY well, likes to finish strong at the rim, and can protect the rim. If you watch the DraftExpress video on him right here you see what he brings to the table. Alex Len 2013 NBA Draft Scouting Report Video (via DraftExpress) One of the three things that impress me the most is his ability to create from the post. He uses jab steps, ball fakes and anything it takes to get to the rim. His post game is so versatile in that he knows how to get past his defender and get an easy shot. Many times in this video he gets past his defender and dunks with flare. I saw two very difficult reverse dunks out of the POST. The second of the three things is his ability to draw the double and pass it to the right guy. He created looks for shooters that we didnt see all season last year with the Cats. He passes it quickly out of the double too, making him more effective. The third has kinda already been said but there is almost not downside to this kid. Grouped with a coach like Steve Clifford, who has a lot of experience with bigs (Dwight Howard on the Magic), and playmakers like Kemba Walker and MKG, and shooters like Gordon and maybe someone from free agency we are going to be a team that can compete nightly in the NBA. Alex Len is literally everything you want in a big and the Bobcats are in desperate need of one. He can post up, face up, hit the bank, hit a long range 2, pass out of the double team INCREDIBLY well, likes to finish strong at the rim, and can protect the rim. If you watch the DraftExpress video on him right here you see what he brings to the table. Alex Len 2013 NBA Draft Scouting Report Video (via DraftExpress) One of the three things that impress me the most is his ability to create from the post. He uses jab steps, ball fakes and anything it takes to get to the rim. His post game is so versatile in that he knows how to get past his defender and get an easy shot. Many times in this video he gets past his defender and dunks with flare. I saw two very difficult reverse dunks out of the POST. The second of the three things is his ability to draw the double and pass it to the right guy. He created looks for shooters that we didnt see all season last year with the Cats. He passes it quickly out of the double too, making him more effective. The third has kinda already been said but there is almost not downside to this kid. Grouped with a coach like Steve Clifford, who has a lot of experience with bigs (Dwight Howard on the Magic), and playmakers like Kemba Walker and MKG, and shooters like Gordon and maybe someone from free agency we are going to be a team that can compete nightly in the NBA. Poll Should we draft Len at the fourth pick? Yes No 5 votes | Results

I joined Lewis Woodard of WFNZ (CBS Charlotte) to talk about the Bobcats hire of Steve Clifford + Patrick Ewing, trade rumors and the upcoming June 27th draft. LISTEN

Is Jordan lining up a free agency blockbuster this summer? Are the stars aligning!?! Probably not but let a man dream! Howard and CP3 are reportedly looking to play together. Why wouldn't Charlotte be an ideal place for them to join forces? NC is home for CP3 and he is a big fan of Jordan. His AAU team is here, his camp is here, his family is here. Howard bottomed out in a big market. He has a relationship with Clifford AND Patrick Ewing from Orlando. Maybe he wants to get away from the soul-sucking hell hole that is L.A. and come back to the beautiful east coast. I can see it as a possibility. Charlotte has to be a nice fit for these guys. GS, OKC, Memphis, and SA has shown that playing for a small market team can be a lot of fun. We have young pieces in MKG, Kemba, Taylor, Anthony Bennett(?). We have 3 first round picks so we will add talent for sure. I'll end by saying that I know next to little about our cap situation. Maybe someone can shed more light on that. But the way I see it is if Miami can sign 3 max players, why couldn't we sign 2? Is Jordan lining up a free agency blockbuster this summer? Are the stars aligning!?! Probably not but let a man dream! Howard and CP3 are reportedly looking to play together. Why wouldn't Charlotte be an ideal place for them to join forces? NC is home for CP3 and he is a big fan of Jordan. His AAU team is here, his camp is here, his family is here. Howard bottomed out in a big market. He has a relationship with Clifford AND Patrick Ewing from Orlando. Maybe he wants to get away from the soul-sucking hell hole that is L.A. and come back to the beautiful east coast. I can see it as a possibility. Charlotte has to be a nice fit for these guys. GS, OKC, Memphis, and SA has shown that playing for a small market team can be a lot of fun. We have young pieces in MKG, Kemba, Taylor, Anthony Bennett(?). We have 3 first round picks so we will add talent for sure. I'll end by saying that I know next to little about our cap situation. Maybe someone can shed more light on that. But the way I see it is if Miami can sign 3 max players, why couldn't we sign 2?

Chris Bosh may soon be on the move. Following the Miami Heat's practice Wednesday, Bosh told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that he and his wife Adrienne have decided to put their 12,000-square-foot home on the market. He emphasized that the decision was made strictly with his family in mind and not because of concerns about the direction of his playing career. "I'm in Miami for the rest of my career," he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "I plan to be there. I plan to retire there. I plan to win hopefully a lot more championships there. So that's where home is." His wife, who is expecting their second child, took to Twitter to emphasize that point, "Our house is def not listed. We are in the middle of building a new nursery." After the news broke, speculation quickly turned to Bosh wanting to move on from Miami by opting-out of his contract, which includes an early termination option in 2014, and a player option for the 2015-16 season. Other speculation from the rumor mill, which has been quite busy in recent weeks, focuses on Bosh being an offseason target for the Charlotte Bobcats in a trade for the fourth overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft as reported by Sports Illustrated. Bosh has struggled during the postseason, experiencing one of the worst stretches of his entire ten-year career which only makes his decision to relocate seem timely and adds fuel to all the speculation. So, could Chris Bosh really be on his way out of Miami? What if he and his family really are just looking for a change of scenery in South Florida, what could have prompted this decision to hunt for new digs? Let's speculate... Sense of security after the break-inWhile out with friends, family and teammates to celebrate his 29th birthday, Bosh's home was burglarized and more than $340,000 worth of jewelry, watches, rings and more went missing according to Miami Beach Police. After being burglarized, a change of address can offer a new sense of security and a fresh start. The move could have something to do with that. Problems with the neighbors?Bosh lives next door to Miami Heat guard and teammate Dwyane Wade, and the two reportedly spend quite a bit of time together, especially on the eve before games. They've both struggled mightily this postseason and have relied on each other to work through their issues on the court. It's doubtful Bosh is having issues with his neighbors. Baby steps and crayonsHave you seen the interior of the Bosh household? It's the perfect canvas for a soon-to-be (if not already) walking baby Jack and his little sister who's on the way. Maybe the change in décor will deprive us of a mini Picasso in the making but save the parents from having to clean up a big mess. Is this beginning to sound ridiculous, or should I keep going? Trust me, I can. The point is that I can speculate as much as I want and come up with many reasons for the Bosh's decision to put their home on the market, whether for professional or personal reasons. Chris Bosh often finds himself in the shadows amongst his superstar teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and he's always in the middle of trade rumors when things seem to not be going Miami's way. However, his team is down 2-1 in the NBA Finals; down, not out. To speculate that Bosh's house being on the market is a preemptive measure to being the odd-man out because the Miami Heat big three is being blown up while they are still playing to defend their Championship is absolutely absurd. If he says the decision to sell his house is for personal reasons, take it for what it is and let the man play on."You know, man, I don't care," he said of the speculation. "At first, I used to care. But that hindered my game. And they're going to talk about you, anyway. It's something that you can't ever overcome. So why should you even try to prove people wrong? I just play the game."After all, if the Heat are able to defend their Championship and win it all, all the speculation probably woul

David Thorpe discusses why Anthony Bennett's skills and physicality is a perfect fit for the Charlotte Bobcats.

Baseliners A.S. Chin and Ben Weinrib discuss the PROS and CONS of betting the franchise on Boogie Cousins. BEN: It’s that time of the year again. We’re approaching the NBA Draft, which means rumors are starting to fly about which troubled young stars might be on the move. Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins’ name has been popping up a lot lately, although there have been just as many reports saying the Kings don’t want to move him. But trade talk is fun, so let’s continue with the hypotheticals! The Bobcats’ package for Boogie (wow, what a nickname) would certainly be centered around the #4 pick in the draft. With four first-round picks in the next two years, Charlotte has the chips to get a trade done, but the Kings’ asking price is surely going to be steep. At what point is GM Rich Cho giving up too much for the moody free agent-to-be? ASCHIN: Don’t believe the reverse-hype. If there’s an offer out there good enough, Sacramento will make the move. The Kings organization is starting over from the top down (owner, GM, coach) and would certainly welcome the opportunity to shed Boogie and his antics for the right price. I’m guessing a combination of this year’s #4 pick, Bismack Biyombo and the future Top 14 protected Portland pick is the MINIMUM it will take to get the deal done pre-Draft. BEN: I’ll start by saying this: I am a HUGE DeMarcus Cousins fan. It’s almost creepy how much I like him. But the money is a bit concerning. He has one year left before he will assuredly get a max contract, which means he will cost $63.3 million over five years. That’s pretty fair value for a guy who averages 18 and 10, but the #4 pick gives tremendous value. Drafting a big man (Anthony Bennett or Alex Len) will only cost $16.8 million over four years. That comes down to $4.2 million for the draft pick and about $12.6 million for Cousins. Bennett or Len may eventually put up similar numbers and they’ll cost one third as much. Using some advanced math–bare with me here–that gives Charlotte $8.4 million extra to spend. There’s a lot a team can do with that extra money. They could sign a Charlie Villanueva, their own John Salmons, or even a Metta World Peace! That’s not even considering they’d be giving up essentially two more first-rounders. Isn’t there something to be said about financial flexibility? ASCHIN: First off, how dare you neglect to mention everyone’s favorite $8 million man, Tyrus Thomas. Second, I’m having an extremely difficult time recalling anybody in that “above-mid-level-sub-max” range worth the money. Thanks to the past couple of CBAs, the league has been further stratified into the haves and have-nots. Today’s ideal cap situation consists of two to three “stars” making near max money, a couple of mid-level guys and a bunch of rookies and veterans on minimum deals. Demarcus has a chance to blossom into an elite center thanks to his ability to operate in the high and low post (see Duncan, the Gasols, Bosh) and as of right now, he’s probably the best chance Charlotte has at acquiring a star because A.) the team’s hasn’t exactly perfected the art of Drafting and B.) Free Agent stars won’t come to Charlotte without other stars or potential stars on the roster (see David West in Indy). So in my mind, you have to make the bold trade and hope Cousins’ mental problems don’t get in the way of him reaching his potential – price be damned! BEN: I think you’re starting to convince me, but I still think there’s an issue about the value of the assets. Let’s assume the trade would be Boogie for the #4 pick, Biyombo, and the Portland pick. Houston is rumored to be looking to auction off Thomas Robinson for a future first round pick, so they can fit Dwight Howard under the cap. Charlotte could land a player they nearly

Similar to Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker, Trey Burke carried his Michigan Wolverines to an NCAA Tournament Finals appearance. His combination of blazing quickness and clutch perimeter shooting were crucial to Michigan's success as a team. While Kemba was out-shined in the 2011 draft by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, Burke is above and beyond the best point guard in this year's class. His overall skill set on both sides of the ball makes him an extremely enticing prospect to any team that's looking for a point guard to build with. The 6'0" Burke is possibly one of the best all-around scoring threats in this draft despite being Michigan's top facilitator (7.5 assists per 40 minutes). This is because of the initial chemistry he had with freshman big Mitch McGary. McGary worked well with Burke because of his agility and ability to work around the paint, which made him a stellar pick and roll option. Burke used the freshman as a decoy to work around the perimeter or used a quick bounce pass to the diving big. The combination of his passing ability and the way he can penetrate the defense was lethal because of how many spot-up threats the Wolverines employed. Burke's 6'0", 187-pound frame is a bit undersized for an NBA point guard, but he compensates for that with a solid 6'5" wingspan and great athleticism. Even when he's not working in the pick and roll, Burke is still able to get into the lane because of his fantastic ball-handling and ability to change speeds. However, he may not be able to get to rim as much in the NBA because of his height and small frame. Thankfully, Burke is great when it comes to using his body to draw contact. While he's an extremely smart and crafty player when he works his way inside, Burke's main strength is his perimeter shooting ability. As a spot-up shooter, Burke shot 44 percent from the field and 42 percent off the dribble. Burke is deadly every time he pulls up because of his smooth, quick stroke and deep range. But be warned: He's a bit over-confident with his jumper sometimes and that can lead into some horribly inefficient shot attempts. He should settle down as he matures as a player but it's still a concern. Defense is where Burke might struggle the most when he reaches the NBA because of his small frame. He'll have some issues against some of the bigger guards in the NBA, and it doesn't really help that he often lacks focus on the defensive end. It's not all bad: His quickness and long wingspan helped him grab two steals per 40 minutes. Fit with the Bobcats While Trey Burke is an extremely talented prospect, the Bobcats probably won't take a glimpse at him because of Kemba Walker. Kemba is considered one of the faces of the franchise as we move into the Steve Clifford era so it would be ideal for the team to select a frontcourt player, something the Bobcats desperately need.. Would Trey Burke be a good fit for the Bobcats if they didn't have Kemba? Probably, but Burke won't be in the cards when the Bobcats make their selection June 27.

Chris Bosh has become the whipping boy for NBA fans and analysts frustrated with the Miami Heat, but he says his recent decision to put his Miami home on the market isn't what it seems. Bosh has struggled to make an impact during the playoffs, and even as the defending champions are busy battling the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals, trade rumors linking Bosh to the Bobcats have already surfaced. He says the rumors have nothing to do with his decision to put his house up for sale (via the South Florida Sun Sentinel): "I'm in Miami for the rest of my career. I plan to be there. I plan to retire there. I plan to win hopefully a lot more championships there. So that's where home is." "You know, man, I don't care [about the trade rumors]. At first, I used to care. But that hindered my game. And they're going to talk about you, anyway. It's something that you can't ever overcome. So why should you even try to prove people wrong? I just play the game." More: SB Nation NBA's 2013 NBA Finals Coverage Bosh joined forces with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to form the so-called "Big Three" in July of 2010, but through three trips to the NBA Finals, he has always been considered an afterthought in the power structure. If the Big Three can be thought of as pyramidal alignment, things have always been oriented to keep Bosh on the bottom. Wade's decline suggests that LeBron is alone at the top now, so Miami will need to get creative if they want any type of super-team to survive. Bosh has always been considered the most-expendable piece, yet his salary is on par with James' -- he is owed $19.07 million in 2013-14, has an early termination option for 2014-15 on a $20.59 million salary and a $22.11 player option for 2015-16. Bosh insisted that relocation to a new home would be a family decision, and Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel noted that the Bosh household was burglarized in April and $479,000 worth of property was taken. As for what's next for Bosh, he said he and his family are "just testing things out right now." With regards to his situation with the Heat, he added, "if we win this thing, nobody remembers anything." More from SB Nation: • Spurs role players reign | The Kawhi Leonard lesson • Spurs crush Heat: Who needs the Big 3? | GIFs • Prada: What happened to LeBron? • Spurs fans troll Heat with "Seven Nation Army" • Kidd named Nets coach • NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

There has been a lot of discussion about how much cap space the Bobcats will have going into this summer. The short answer at the beginning is $0. I have come up with the following breakdown and believe it to be accurate given my research from hoopshype, sham sports, and Larry Coon’s CBA FAQ. Anyway, I think it’s very interesting and provides some input on our options and the decisions we will need to make quickly in July. Current Salary Cap Situation: Ben Gordon -> $16.4 million cap hold Gana Diop -> $11 million cap hold Tyrus Thomas -> $8.7 million salary Gerald Henderson -> $7.7 million cap hold Byron Mullens -> $5.6 million cap hold Ramon Sessions -> $5 million salary Michael Kidd-Gilchrist -> $4.8 million salary Josh McRoberts -> 4.1 million cap hold Reggie Williams -> $3.4 million cap hold Bismack Biyombo -> $3 million salary #4 Pick -> $3.2 million cap hold Kemba Walker -> $2.6 million salary Brendan Haywood -> $2 million salary Jeff Adrien -> $916K salary (unguaranteed) Jeff Taylor -> $788K salary Total -> $79.4 million As you can see, we are miles over the $58.5 million cap initially. The good news is that we can get under the cap rather quickly. I’ve listed the complete set of moves we can make to free up the most possible salary cap space. Note that we obviously won’t do all of these moves but it allows us to play with the numbers and pick and choose which moves make the most sense. Here we go: Move #1: Ben Gordon accepts his player option, reducing his cap hold (Total: $76.2 million) Move #2: Renounce Diop and Williams (Total: $61.7 million) Move #3: Amnesty Tyrus Thomas (Total: $53 million) – Now we’re under the cap! Move #4: Renounce McRoberts (Total: $49 million) – Can still re-sign him, just can’t use any of the Bird Rights to do so Move #5: Don’t extend QO to Mullens (Total: $43.3 million) Move #6: Don’t extend QO to Henderson (Total: $35.6 million) – This is getting to the extreme part of the equation Move #7: Waive Adrien (Total: $34.7 million) So if we get really extreme, we could be $23.8 million under the cap. Obviously, not all of these things are going to happen. Hypothetically, let’s say we do everything except moves 4 and 6. If we sign McBob for $4 million and Henderson for $7 million, that would put us at $45.7 million with 10 players. That would give us $12.8 million to sign somewhere between 3-5 players to round out the roster before hitting the cap and leave you with the following roster. PG: Kemba/Sessions SG: Henderson/Gordon SF: MKG/Taylor PF: Bennett (draft guess)/McRoberts C: Biz/Haywood Given this information, what would you guys do? There has been a lot of discussion about how much cap space the Bobcats will have going into this summer. The short answer at the beginning is $0. I have come up with the following breakdown and believe it to be accurate given my research from hoopshype, sham sports, and Larry Coon’s CBA FAQ. Anyway, I think it’s very interesting and provides some input on our options and the decisions we will need to make quickly in July. Current Salary Cap Situation: Ben Gordon -> $16.4 million cap hold Gana Diop -> $11 million cap hold Tyrus Thomas -> $8.7 million salary Gerald Henderson -> $7.7 million cap hold Byron Mullens -> $5.6 million cap hold Ramon Sessions -> $5 million salary Michael Kidd-Gilchrist -> $4.8 million salary Josh McRoberts -> 4.1 million cap hold Reggie Williams -> $3.4 million cap hold Bismack Biyombo -> $3 million salary #4 Pick -> $3.2 million cap hold Kemba Walker -> $2.6 million salary Brendan Haywood -> $2 million salary Jeff Adrien -> $916K salary (unguaranteed) Jeff Taylor -> $788K salary Total -> $79.4 million As you can see, we are miles over the $58.5 million cap initially. The good news is that we can get under the cap rather quickly. I’ve listed the complete set of moves we can make to free up the mos

Bobcats guard Kemba Walker is among 27 players confirmed for 2013 USA Basketball Men's National Team Mini-Camp.