| Bobcats Offseason Update Authored by Danny Thompson - July 5, 2005 - 8:36 pm
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The 2005 NBA Draft for the Charlotte Bobcats was a night that the second year franchise will look back on in a few years and wonder what if? The team did drafted the point guard of the future in North Carolina's Raymond Felton and turned back around and added forward help in Final Four Most Valuable Player Sean May. Besides both being winners in college, the duo adds a touch of Carolina Blue to the team. But they passed on a few good players like New Mexico's Danny Granger, Texas A&M's Antoine Wright, and Houston High School product Gerald Green at the 13th selection.
Felton led the ACC in assists last season and is a hometown boy. Felton is from Latta, South Carolina, a short car ride from Charlotte. At 6 foot and 199 pounds, Felton is an outstanding passer who has improved on his shooting each year in college. He went from being a 35 percent 3 point shooter as a freshman to an ACC best 44 percent last season. Many around him say that he needs to work on his decision making because he loses the ball a bit to much for many observers. He could come in right away and become the starter at point guard or if the team resigns Brevin Knight, become a key man off the bench until it's his time to run the show.
May, who's father is Indiana hoop legend Scott May, was considered by many to be the best rebounder and have the best hands of anyone in the 2005 class. Last season, May put together his best all-around season at North Carolina. He averaged 17.5 points and 10.7 rebounds and shot over 56 percent from the floor. For a big man, May is so athletic for a 258 pound forward. He can catch the ball better than any big man coming out and can shoot with either hand. But May needs to work on his defense and quickness to guard the athletic power forwards (Kevin Garnett, Kenyon Martin and Amare Stoudmare to name a few) in the league.
After watching last nights Draft from a Bobcat NBA Draft Party, I kept hearing the same 3 questions over and over again in passing by random fans that were in attendance. So hear are the top 3 questions by Bobcat fans about the draft from last night.
1. Will Raymond Felton lead this team to the promise land?
Yes, Felton has a great sense of the game and can pass the better than both Chris Paul and Daron Williams. He has a great passion for basketball and has gotten better with each year of going to college. He has tremendous quickness and can beat just about anyone in a foot race with the ball in his hands. This can only happen if Felton can learn to score more instead of pass so much (For those who don't know, Felton is the all-time leader in South Carolina High School Basketball History in scoring.) and control the game and ball better, he could be a future all-star on the NBA level.
2. Why Sean May at 13?
Until coach Bernie Bickerstaff can convince me that both May and Emeka Okafor can play on the floor together and be effective or Okafor's back has more problems than the rest of the basketball public knows nothing about, I will always second guess this pick. Not to say that Sean May won't be a good player, but with holes at both shooting guard and small forward, picking May would not have been at the top of my list of potential picks. I would have taken a chance on Gerald Green. Granted Green is 18 years old and has played against guys that wouldn't play at the JUCO level, he is a killer athlete with an improving game and Charlotte would have been a great place to showcase it. If not Green, at least take Wright, Granger or even North Carolina's Rashad McCants.
3. Can these picks help Charlotte next season?
Yes they can help, because Charlotte has 4 players under contract for 2005-06 and offers on 4 other players. Any help in Charlotte can help. Felton can step in right away if needed and start on opening night and May can help off the bench with his hardwork on the glass.
If you have any comments or question for me leave me an email at QCBigCat21@aol.com. |
