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Bobcats Fans Have Something to Cheer About
Michael Wilbon reporting live from the Bobcats' practice facility in Charlotte, NC. Where a new tandem is built and a struggling franchise desperate for fans are excited to usher in a new era of basketball.
The Bobcats came into this off-season as a team with the second best record in the league and suffered one of the biggest first round upsets in recent history when they lost in seven games to the Brandon Roye led Washington Wizards. In private conversations with MJ over the summer he told me he had to find a way to center his team around a player other than a PG, despite Russell Westbrook's MVP caliber year, it was playoff basketball when adjustments were made and the ease in which teams could take a pg out of the game made MJ draw the conclusion-something needed to change.
Bobcats have made many low-key moves over the off-season acquiring players other teams may have interest in-in order to net them the players they wanted. Bobcats beleived all along Derrick Williams was the best player in the draft and a future franchise player in the right situation. MJ noted what he brings to the table, "Derrick is a monster athlete simply put. The guy coming out of college has a body that resembles Lebron in terms of his frame and he has wing shooting ability with pf post game- we believe he can be a match up nightmare." Jordan though isn't quick to appoint him the second coming of himself. "This guy has a lot to learn though, if he is coachable and I think he will be, he can have a great career down here in Charlotte. But, he's going to have to learn on the fly w/ the premier small forwards this league has to offer- night in and out he's going to have to line-up against KD, Melo, Granger, that's no fun for any mortal unless it was either those guys or playing me-haha. No, I'm serious..."
With Derrick Williams in the fold, Bobcats were offered a deal they literally couldn't refuse to couple the young man with a legit top teir NBA wing to create one of the most athletic young teams this league has ever seen. Rudy Gay was brought into the fold along with JJ Hickson and players to be names later for Al Horford and other players yet to be named. Rudy Gay coming off his best statistical season to date at the ripe age of 24 just now becoming the player we all know he can be. "I'm excited to be a Bobcat and come into a team that was very successful last year, very well coached, and ran by the best ball player ever." When asked about whether he thinks he and Williams can coincide he responded, " Me and that kid are going to have a lot of fun playing together, we are going to learn and grow with each other, and hopefully get a few wins along the way."
There is a lot of high energy coming from Charlotte these days, and we are all eager to see how it shapes up when the season begins for these two later this year. If there is any indicator of what this team's new mission for the upcoming season is, Rudy Gay's former Gm told him once he was traded- "You and D-Will, wow... Get the popcorn ready"
Espn Senior Writer Michael Wilbon
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