Is it ever acceptable to settle for mediocrity? In the NBA, more times than not, being mediocre can still land you millions of dollars. But Michael Jordan has never been known as mediocre. The Charlotte Bobcats have been a mediocre team since they were founded in 2004. Believe it or not, when the Bobcats moved their second best player in Gerald Wallace for Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks, and two first-round draft picks, they took a step in the direction to being a relevant franchise in a few years.
Think about it this way: How many teams would win a championship with Gerald Wallace as their second best player? None. Take a look at the Eastern Conference right now. With the Celtics, Magic, Heat, Hawks, Knicks, and Bulls looking like tough playoff teams, there was never a chance for the Bobcats to make a splash in the playoffs. But looking into the future, the Bobcats may have an opportunity to become a contender. The Celtics are bound to breakdown eventually. Rumors about Dwight Howard leaving in the summer of 2012 rumors continue to fly around. The Heat and Knicks may run into chemistry issues if they find that having too many stars does not work out. The Bobcats might not have an opportunity for success right now, so it is best for them to pull back.
By moving Wallace, they increase their likelihood of getting the first pick in the NBA Draft. They will have a great deal of cap space since they have acquired four expiring contracts from the trade deadline. The key thing to remember is that with Wallace gone, the Bobcats will officially enter rebuilding mode.
With pieces like Tyrus Thomas, D.J. Augustin, and many first-round draft picks, the Bobcats might even be able to make a move similar to the one the Nets made for Deron Williams. We never thought the Jazz would move Williams, so you never know if the Bobcats could pull off a similar deal for Chris Paul. It would make sense after all, since Paul is from North Carolina.
Their priority this summer should be to move Stephen Jackson — who has two years left on his contract after this season. Jackson will likely want to play on a contending team because that is what the Bobcats will not be. With Jackson gone, the Bobcats will be one of the most flexible teams in the League (along with one of the worst).
We saw that with flexibility comes good things. After the NBA Trade Deadline, the two most flexible teams in the NBA, the Knicks and Nets, scored big in landing Carmelo Anthony and Williams respectively. It is nice to see that Michael Jordan has a plan. While this move certainly does not help them fill the stadium or sell jerseys, success could come to Charlotte sooner than we think.
What do you think?
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