First, I know nuts about trades. 2nd, can we give Charlotte cash as part of the deal for them to waive Taylor (if we want to do it)? If we can, is there a limit to how much cash we can give them?
With all due respect, how do you know what the Bobcats want? Isn't an expansion draft somewhat "new", an imperfect science, meaning the Bobcats may take a new undiscovered route than the Grizzlies did? Everyone agrees that they won't take MoT, that's fine. But I think they will take some players with big contracts, because they'll run out of the players you were talking about. They can only have a certain number of players, and teams won't leave big contracts in their last years to the expansion draft. For example, if they thought Orlando and Dallas would love to have Cato, they would probably speak to the Mavs and Magic, try and arrange a deal, pick Cato, then trade him, right? Something like Juwan Howard for Cato (they can make trades like a team under the cap, correct?) would be a nice deal for Charlotte.
With all due respect, how do you know what the Bobcats want? Isn't an expansion draft somewhat "new", an imperfect science, meaning the Bobcats may take a new undiscovered route than the Grizzlies did? I dunno...maybe because Bernie Bickerstaff has already said what their strategy will be? Here's the quote from Bickerstaff (The Charlotte GM): Bickerstaff realizes that some attractive players will be put on the expansion list. He claims Charlotte can resist the temptation, unless, that is, someone dangles a star in their direction. "I know teams are going to put players on list with big salaries. If there's a player that makes a difference, you consider taking them. If that player makes a difference." What is a difference-maker? Bickerstaff said only a handful of players in the league qualify. In other words, you won't be seeing a difference-maker in this year's expansion draft. Did you not see the ESPN Insider article about the expansion draft? It's the same one that listed a mock expansion draft. Here's another excerpt that lays out their strategies: Such uncertainty makes it tough to predict what the Bobcats are going to do in June. But Bickerstaff claims there are a number of core principles that will inform the decisions the Bobcats make this summer. Build through the draft. Bickerstaff said his team is least concerned with free agency right now. The team is looking for young players and thinks the best place to get them is in the expansion and amateur drafts. Bickerstaff said he doesn't expect to be a big player in free agency this year unless something special comes around. That means that, unlike previous expansion drafts, the Bobcats will be looking for core players they can begin building around. A young core. Bickerstaff said the team will focus on developing a core group of young players. "We want to go with youth," Bickerstaff told Insider. "We want a young group of core players. We don't feel there are going to be any dominant players out there [in the expansion draft or free agency]. Therefore you focus on a core group of young players and build." Veteran support. Much like the Nuggets did this year, Bickerstaff wants to make sure his young core is surrounded by a handful of patient, unselfish veterans who can show the rookies how to win and be professionals. "It's also important to find veteran players who understand their role, who are there to be positive in your locker room, to show professionalism, work ethic, to build those young players," Bickerstaff said. "You've got to be very selective. They have to understand why they're there." Cap flexibility. Don't expect owner Robert Johnson to break the bank on draft night. The Bobcats will be given the flexibility to select players in the expansion draft regardless of the size of the players' contracts. An owner like Mark Cuban could easily spend $50 million to $75 million in the expansion draft and come away with an impressive veteran core. Bickerstaff said he would resist that temptation. "Cap management is really important. We've got to be very careful who we give our money to." Bickerstaff understands most teams get in trouble when they lose their cap flexibility. He's trying to maintain it early on (despite being limited to only two-thirds of the salary cap this season and three-fourths next season) so the Bobcats can capitalize on an opportunity if one presents itself. Let's make a deal. The Bobcats can expect to hear from several teams looking to enrich them if they're willing to select an undesirable player or two in the expansion draft. Teams like the Suns, Wizards and Pistons are looking for major cap room and might be willing to offer cash and draft picks if the Bobcats take a troublesome contract off their hands. Bickerstaff said that the idea, in theory, was interesting, but claimed he hasn't been able to talk with GMs around the league about it, so he couldn't really comment. "We're good listeners," Bickerstaff said. "I think we're going to be open to hearing what people want to offer." Patience. The Bobcats know the fans in Charlotte aren't normal expansion fans. The Hornets squad that left two seasons ago was a playoff team. The city's NFL team just went to the Super Bowl and previously made it to the NFC Championship Game in only its second year in the league. Will Bickerstaff and Co. feel pressure to put a good team out on the floor right away? "No," Bickerstaff said bluntly. "We've got to be patient. Do the right things for the basketball team. It's important to have a young team. ... We want to build a product that has sustaining value." Now what do you think? You do also realize that while the Bobcats aren't bound by the cap during the expansion draft, they are after it and it's even worse for them because they have a cap that is 2/3rds of other teams. So if Charlotte drafts Cato and trades him to Dallas, the Mavs have to send back at least 85% of Cato's salary and Charlotte doesn't want that.
