Off-Season Game Plan: Bobcats
Following the season, according to the Winston-Salem Journal, Bernie Bickerstaff told his team: "Prepare yourself to move to another level."
While that level doesn't necessarily have to mean a playoff spot, an improved and healthier Bobcats team can be competitive in the East next year.
Even with the Bobcats reaching full salary cap status, it's not expected that they will make any major free agent acquisitions, preferring to let their young homegrown talent develop further before dipping into the big bucks free agent pool.
That being the case, the Bobcats' most significant offseason addition could once again be their lottery pick, third overall barring any lottery changes. Looking for perimeter scoring, the Bobcats would seem to have interest and need for Gonzaga's Adam Morrison or Washington's Brandon Roy.
Though a big splash on the free agent market would be a surprise, Charlotte could pursue scoring guards like Bobby Jackson, Flip Murray or Jeff McInnis; guys that would come at a reasonable enough price.
Should the Bobcats make a trade this summer, their most marketable chip would be veteran point guard Brevin Knight. An outstanding rookie season from Raymond Felton makes Knight expendable and a reasonable contract (one-year, $4.4M before a team option for $4.2M) would put Knight in high demand. If Charlotte could add even more young talent in return, then a Knight deal might make some sense.
In the grand scheme of things, however, the Bobcats need their young big men, Emeka Okafor and Sean May to be healthy if the Bobcats are going to improve significantly.
GM/COACH
Bernie Bickerstaff
CENTERS
Returning: Primoz Brezec
Free Agents: Melvin Ely (RFA), Jake Voskuhl (UFA)
FORWARDS
Returning: Emeka Okafor, Gerald Wallace, Sean May, Matt Carroll (TO)
Free Agents: Jumaine Jones (UFA), Lonny Baxter (UFA), Bernard Robinson (RFA)
GUARDS
Returning: Brevin Knight, Raymond Felton, Alan Anderson (TO)
Free Agents: Kevin Burleson (RFA)
DRAFT
3rd - Adam Morrison, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay
FREE AGENCY
Payroll: $23M
TRADE MARKET
Knight (one year, $4.4M)
