SB Nation User Blog: David Arnott

Niekro Knuckles Under the Pressure

David Arnott — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:59:50 -0000

Niekro Knuckles Under the Pressure

Lance Niekro, back in Rookie ball, still chasing the dream.

Sheed Goes to Boston: A Change of Seasons

David Arnott — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:20:06 -0000

Sheed Goes to Boston: A Change of Seasons

I have to wonder: the blessing and the curse of Rasheed’s game has always been his fire. He’s attached, he’s emotional, and when the dude cares about basketball, he’s a force. But a lot of what Wallace has always been able to achieve comes from the kinship he forms with his teammates. The battle-in-the-trenches and goof-off-in-the-locker-room mentality always appeared to be what fueled him. If he really has morphed into some mercenary warrior, devoid of the loyalty that has been a staple of his career since his Portland days, will Sheed ever be able to regain his former success?

Cross off another free agent that was tenuously linked to the Bobcats.

Two Links for a Holiday Weekend

David Arnott — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:55:56 -0000

What's Wrong with the NBA - TrueHoop By Henry Abbott - ESPN
We hear the stories all the time. There are problems with the NBA. If you wanted to make a story about what that means exactly, you might want to use the facts from this star's real biography...

The lesson, as always: Get a large enough group of young men, and there will be enough "bad apples" to go around, depending on how you define "bad apple".

Inside the NBA: A wee bit of news on Brandon Bass
I'd heard some NBA team had offered Bass a five-year deal worth in excess of $25 million. Dutt declined to confirm whether the Bobcats made such an offer, but I'm told elsewhere the Bobcats wouldn't be that team.

I guess that means so much for Brandon Bass in Charlotte, unless Dallas is interested in a reciprocal sign-and-trade for Felton, but I can't imagine that.

Which Free Agents Should the Bobcats Target?

David Arnott — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:51:06 -0000

More photos » by Jack Dempsey - AP

Browse more photos »

Ron Artest is headed for the Lakers.

Marcin Gortat is gonna hook on with the Mavs.

And Trevor Ariza is closing in on an agreement with the Rockets.

===

The Bobcats need to add two players, and, ideally, they will both be better than the current options. At PG, assuming we keep Felton, that would be a player that's better than Dontell Jefferson. Various guys out there who have no business starting, but can back up, include:

Anthony Carter

Jason Hart

Fred Jones

Mike Wilks

Keith Bogans

Kevin Ollie

Tyronn Lue

Bobby Jackson

Ronnie Price

For the backup PF slot, there are, again, plenty of low-cost options who would be better than the current player, who is "no one". Guys who can simply soak up minutes. Expand it to "backup big man", and there are even more options, like Brian Skinner.

Ike Diogu

Shavlik Randolph

Channing Frye

Rob Kurz (more of a SF, I guess)

Walter Herrmann

Joe Smith

Sean May

Leon Powe

I'm pretty sure none of these guys will get paid anywhere near $5.5 million this upcoming season, which kind of illustrates why giving Felton the QO looks like a bad idea. Not only were a bunch of guys available at both positions for less than $5.5 million combined, but other teams aren't going to want to trade for Felton unless they want him to start for them this year. That said, now that we're committed to Felton's money, it might make sense to trade him for a PF who would cost that much, since we, literally, have no one to back up Diaw adequately.

We can offer the bi-annual exception or the mid-level exception to free agents, but that would push our payroll ever higher, and at the point, I think there's a real question over whether or not it's worth it to spend extra dollars on backup positions, as those are real dollars going out of investors' pockets and into players'.

What say you? Which players does it make most sense to target?

Rubio Headed Back to Spain

David Arnott — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:44:54 -0000

Rubio Headed Back to Spain

So says Rubio's local paper in Barcelona, according to the Pioneer Press.

Sean May got a call from the Suns

David Arnott — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:50:55 -0000

Sean May got a call from the Suns

Via the Bobcats Planet Twitter

Zach Randolph Traded to Grizzlies

David Arnott — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:31:01 -0000

Zach Randolph Traded to Grizzlies

I'd forgotten that Quentin Richardson gets paid almost $9 million per year.

Pistons Sign Two Free Agents to Big Contracts

David Arnott — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:56:43 -0000

Pistons Sign Two Free Agents to Big Contracts

5 years. $90 million total. For two players. Would you rather have Emeka Okafor and Gerald Wallace for the next four years at $23.75 million per year, or Ben Wallace and Charlie Villanueva for the next five years at roughly $18 million per year?

Leon Powe is Unemployed

David Arnott — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:40:44 -0000

Leon Powe is Unemployed

As someone who advocated giving Sean May another chance to come back from injury, I'd be crazy not to advocate giving Leon Powe a shot. This upcoming season will be a tough slog, but after that? Whichever team gets him should "redshirt" him for most of this year, hope he contributes down the stretch run, then give him the opportunity to go out and earn a big deal after 2010-11.

Side note: My dad says without hesitation that Leon Powe was by far the best high school basketball player he's ever seen in person.

Final Call for Fiction Contest Submissions

David Arnott — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:32:44 -0000

Remember, the deadline is July 1 at 12:00 noon!