Next up is Charlotte with the #8 pick in the draft.

Feel free to discuss potential players to be selected, team needs or any other topics related to this pick in this thread.

Once you know who you think they should pick, post your selection in this thread in bold red type. Only vote once per thread.

At 2:30 pm, whichever player has the most votes will be Charlotte's pick in our mock draft.

With Gerald Wallace likely leaving and Morrison looking like a bench player...

The Bobcats select Julian Wright

Current players under contract for 2007-08
Emeka Okafor
Brevin Knight
Adam Morrison
Raymond Felton
Othella Harrington
Sean May

Player options
Gerald Wallace ($6.05m)
Primoz Brezec ($2.75m)
Jake Voskuhl ($2.05m)

Team options
Walter Herrmann ($1.94m)
Ryan Hollins ($687K)

Free agents
Jeff McInnis (UFA)
Matt Carroll (UFA)
Alan Anderson (RFA)
Derek Anderson (UFA)

Picks in this draft
#8
#22

The options that they have hanging out and the free agents make this an interesting one.

If I had to guess, I would say that Wallace & Brezec will opt out, and Voskuhl will stay. They'll almost definitely pick up Hermann's option, since he looked great when he was given playing time at the end of the year.

Matt Carroll was pretty good for them the last two seasons, so I'm guessing they'll want him back, if the price is right.

Agreed. Julian Wright.

I'm going Joakim Noah here. (Switched to Hawes)

If Brezec opts out (even if he doesn't) they need someone to pair with Okafor.

I think taking a SF here makes them admit that the Morrison pick was a mistake, and even though some of the people responsible for that pick are gone, by all accounts, MJ loves Morrison and that makes me think he won't draft his replacement this high. Hermann is a SF/PF, too.

Hawes could be a possibility here too.

Looking at the team's needs, i agree that they look at Julian Wright. it was close between Joakim Noah and Wright, imo. i thought MK might pick Noah as the "proven winner". but, in the end, Wright seems like he's got more potential.

The Bobcats select Julian Wright

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I'm going Joakim Noah here.

If Brezec opts out (even if he doesn't) they need someone to pair with Okafor.

I think taking a SF here makes them admit that the Morrison pick was a mistake, and even though some of the people responsible for that pick are gone, by all accounts, MJ loves Morrison and that makes me think he won't draft his replacement this high. Hermann is a SF/PF, too.

Hawes could be a possibility here too.

I don't like Noah here because he doesn't compliment Okefor well. They be like Ben/PJ on the bulls. Who scores?

I really think Charlotte will try and move up to get Horford. I wonder if Atlanta would swap with them since Atlanta would want Noah or Hawes at #8.

Hawes makes sense to Charlotte as well though since he's a pure offensive player.

Is there any chance that McRoberts or Jason Smith rise up this high?

This one seems like a toss up between Wright and Hawes. If they want to get that big offensive C that they need, they could go with Hawes and have their frontcourt set for years to come. If they think they could use Wright as a SG/SF combo (maybe start him at SG and play him at SF when Morrison isn't working). Also, if they resign Wallace this seems to sway more toward Hawes. That would give them 3 SF's to cram into the PT and one of them would end up playing out of position at SG a lot. That's assuming they don't want to use Wright as a SG.
Another idea is they take Conley and use Felton as a Gordon/Wade type. Have Conley run the point and have Felton wreak havoc all over the court. Not sure which of the 3 I think they'd take.

FYI

I just switched my pick to Spencer Hawes.

Chris makes a good point about the Okafor/Noah combo when it comes to half court offense.

I think Hawes is a better fit with Okafor, and they probably let Brezec go sign with someone else if he opts out.

I think the Bulls are sitting on Hawes at #9, so this would really piss them off.

I think the Bulls are sitting on Hawes at #9, so this would really piss them off.

a spiteful pick....i love it.

http://www.pharfruminsain.com/graphics/images/free-MrBurnsExcellent.gif

Yeah, I think they go Hawes here too.

This I think opens up a very realistic possibility at 9 of the Bulls looking to trade out of that spot, looking at maybe Harden. He would surely still be on the board at say.....15?

***Glen-Dont misrepresent this as me voting in a poll***

Edit-fuck that red noise.


(You're cool, this isn't a poll, it's more of a "survey" -G)

1 hour left, update.


Julian Wright - 3
Spencer Hawes- 2

Spencer Hawes

This I think opens up a very realistic possibility at 9 of the Bulls looking to trade out of that spot, looking at maybe Harden. He would surely still be on the board at say.....15?


Good point.

I could see the Clippers coming up to #9 to grab Conley and the Bulls dropping down to #14 to take either McRoberts or Smith. Especially since they know the Pistons could take McRoberts at #15.

Spencer Hawes highlights to be fair. It's more of an interview piece, though.

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Good point.

I could see the Clippers coming up to #9 to grab Conley and the Bulls dropping down to #14 to take either McRoberts or Smith. Especially since they know the Pistons could take McRoberts at #15.

If Conley is on the board at #9 there will definately be a lot of calls to chicago. Everyone knows Sactown and Atlanta will be looking at Conley.

She's cute Matt, good find.

Spencer Hawes

Adding a 7 footer will make this front court huge....they have some free agent work to do with their guard situation.

If things do go this way, Chicago may be pissed about not getting Hawes but the phone ringing off the hook to get Conley will ease their pain.

Or I suppose they could take Conley themselves and use Hinrich as part of a potential KG or Kobe deal.

his 10 mil would work well for that. but they'd have to make that deal ahead of time IMO. Then going into the draft they can target Conley or Law as a fallback option.

Or I suppose they could take Conley themselves and use Hinrich as part of a potential KG or Kobe deal.

I laughed at that at first, but that is actually a pretty scary thought

If they could trade Hinrich and Gordon for Kobe that would be amazing with Conley there.

Hawes is the pick.