So for fun, lets all pretend (for fun) that his Airness himself called me to offer me his job, the GM position, and all-around bad ass for the Cats. Of course I take the position (I will even do it for 75% of the salary I am entitled to, because I am a team player), wouldn't you? My #1 task: to turn the franchise into a team with a larger fan base, who finishes above .500 for more than 3 consecutive seasons and competes in the playoffs. Sounds easy right?
Step 1: Find a Head Coach
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| We used the term "head coach" a little loose last season |
So we are in the same situation we were a year ago at this time. You are kidding me! You mean being the first team ever to hire an assistant coach on the college level to be the head man on an NBA team didn't work out? Damn. Thought we had something there.
Back to reality. Yes, anything over a 7 win season was going to be an improvement. I will even admit a 7-5 record to start the season had me fairly optimistic in the coaching experiment. However, a disastrous December quickly discouraged everyone in the organization, including Dunlap, who was visibly irritated with the team. It was time to go our separate ways (cue Journey music bed).
What do we need in a new head coach? We need someone who has everything Dunlap lacked: experience, respect, and most importantly, ability. The job looks much more appealing this year than it did last year. We have a top 5 pick this year, probably one next year as well, a ton of potential cap space, and the expectations are in the basement, so surpassing them should be no problem. If it were me, I bring in a head coach with name recognition, like a Jackson (long shot), Sloan (even longer shot), or a Van Gundy (Stan may think on it, but Jeff likes the booth where he can say whatever he wants).
Step 2: The Draft
I am not an expert like Chad Ford, but I have followed the players going into the draft this year pretty closely over the past few months. The one thing I am noticing, it is a weak crop. The top rated guy coming out, Nerlens Noel, is recovering from ACL surgery, so who knows where he will be when the season starts. The next best guy is McLemore, who disappeared in the NCAA tournament against a UNC team who, as a Tar Heel fan I can say, was not good on the defensive side of the ball. After that, everyone has too many holes to be labeled a "Star". |
| Remember this stellar pick? Reminds me of my Dad's senior class photo from 1975 |
In a draft full of role players, why would you use a top 5 pick on someone who will not be a long term starter for your organization? Here is my vote, trade back or out. Getting rid of draft picks when you are in the rebuilding process is not textbook, but our draft history is not awesome, and you could argue that Kidd-Gilchrist was our best draft pick ever!
In my opinion, Trey Burke is the only guy I would use a top 5 pick on in this draft. If he goes, trade back to late lottery, or even late first round. Pick up a player the caliber of Glen Rice Jr, Jeff Withey, or Steven Adams, and get a first round pick next season. Look, the "buzz" around the 2014 draft class is that this will rival the 2003 class for best class ever. The Miami Heat currently have more than one player from that draft class, and look how good they are! Why not stock pile picks for next year, trade back to get proven college role players who will at nothing else work hard and do their job, and get 2 studs next year. I think a line up with 2 guys like Andrew Wiggins and Aaron Gordon looks pretty promising.
Step 3: The Roster
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| Franchise savior, or hilarious actor? You decide! |
What are we going to do with all that cap room?!?! Sit on it! Unless we can land someone like Al Jefferson, do not offer a max deal to anyone! The free agent pool for 2014 is as impressive as the draft class of 2014 compared to this year. We need to set ourselves up to have a HUGE off season in 2014, so sign some veteran players to 1 year deals and promise them playing time. Bring in guys who will either compete for a chance to come back in 2014 or guys who can help develop Kemba, Kidd-Gilchrist, or Biyombo. As far as I am concerned, these are the only guys who have a spot on the team past next season as of right now.
Step 4: The Team
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| Fear me! |
It is no secret that the Bobcats name is bad. I mean, who is afraid of a cat? I know we just revamped the logo and the color scheme and all, but we still have the same feeling with our fan base: Bobcats = Sucks. The best teams and mascots have history, recognition, and are something the fans love being a part of! Therefore, as pretend Owner/General Manager/Badass of the team, we are changing our name back to the Hornets (WOOOOOOHOOOO goes the crowd from the Hornets Nest)! That should stir up a "buzz" (pun totally intended) about this franchise now. I can see the shirts now. "The Buzz is Back".
Look, there are going to be some serious changes made to the team in 2014. Hype up the name change and let the 2 first round picks we get in 2014 (per my great trades made during this draft) be the face of the new Hornets. New team, new look, new vibe!
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| New Jordans |
Plus, think of the marketing! We need a stronger fan base. Right now, the hornets classic colors are popular (purple and teal), so lets take advantage! Jordan is a brand alone, so sell Jordan shoes, socks, shorts, shirts, hats, belts, anything we can in those colors with our team name on them. Everyone likes retro, so lets sell the crap out of it!
The 4 step plan is fool proof. Increase fan base, get better results from the team, get a head coach who knows what he is doing, it all sounds so simple. The questions is, why has it not been done yet!
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| Follow my plan, and we could be here again Charlotte! |
-Matt
One thing to mention about the 2014 draft is that we already have stock piled picks. We have our own, Portlands pick (from Gerald Wallace trade), and Detroit's pick (from taking on Ben Gordon's contract last summer).
ReplyDeleteIn your scenario, I wouldn't mind trading back in this draft and acquire picks for 2015. We already have the ammunition to possibly acquire two top five talents in the 2014 draft, and with Kemba, Biz, and MKG on board that could, and read COULD, lead to a decent core in a few seasons.
I think the biggest problem the Bobcats face is how do you make the team attractive to winning talents? Say Wiggins is Lebron, and say we get him. How do you change the culture to a winning one so he doesn't bolt in four seasons?
I would look at the Thunder model on this one and not the Cavs. When the Thunder got Durant, they stock piled picks and picked up Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka. We need a coach, like Scott Brooks has done, that will set a winning attitude. The Thunder reinvented themselves in OKC, and that is what we will do in Charlotte.
ReplyDeleteLook, not even the Thunder had all their draft picks pan out (Cole Aldrich) so we do not have to make the perfect pick every time. We needs guys with a motor, who are willing to bond and do what it takes to win. The head coach and the front office has to set the tone for that but either trading or spending to show they will do whatever it takes to win.
Cho is the right man for the job at GM. Once he gets a coach in place and we draft his style, winning will come