Editor’s Note: We’ll continue to post updates to this thread as we head towards Thursday’s Draft. It’s a blog within a blog!
MJ shooting down T-Will?
According to ESPN.com, Michael Jordan nixed the Terrence Williams “Promise” after the Henderson/T-Will workout Monday and would rather have the team trade the pick or select Wake Forest’s James Johnson.
T-Will going 11th to New Jersey?!?!?!
ESPN NBA Draft God Chad Ford updated his mock draft twice on Wednesday — he’s up to v6.2 as I write this. Unfortunately, Ford has New Jersey taking probable Bobcats target Terrence Williams with the 11th pick, leaving the Cats with Gerald Henderson (or the possibility of trading down). Ford speculates that even though Williams skipped a second look with the Nets on Tuesday, the Nets have him above Henderson and Hansbrough on their draft board.
So does this make the Nets like a teenage girl who sees her old boyfriend with a rival female, then goes all psycho-bitch and becomes obsessed with getting him back?
ESPN NBA Underlord Chris Broussard offers a few more tidbits about the Nets draft preparations (scroll down to the June 24, 5:53 PM update). Apparently, Brandon Jennings was great in that Tuesday workout (the one that T-Will bailed on), but will nonetheless slip by due to the feeling that he’s a few years away from really contributing at the NBA level. Broussard offers that the Nets do like Hansbrough, but probably not enough to spend the 11th pick on him.
In other words, (continuing the teenage girl comparison) they like Hansbrough, but don’t “like-like” him.
Raja to Golden State?
Golden State appears to be exploring possibilities to improve on the defensive end in hopes of making a strong run to the playoffs next season. One trade that has reportedly been offered by the Charlotte Bobcats that may help on that front would involve packaging Kelenna Azubuike and Marco Belinelli in exchange for Raja Bell. The Warriors are pondering the offer, but would have to get Azubuike’s consent to make the trade unless they decided to wait until July 24th.
Reported at DraftExpress.com.
Bill Simmons & Chad Ford like Iverson, Williams and the Bobcats as a Playoff team in ’09-’10
In the latest episode of “The B.S. Report” Bill Simmons and Chad Ford end the show with a bit on Iverson/Coach Brown/Terrence Williams and the Bobcats future.
Download the podcast here.
Dalembert Trade?
The Dalembert rumors don’t seem to want to go away. This report from Philly has the Bobcats sending Radmanovic, Mohammed and the 12 pick to Philly for Dalembert and the 17. Not sure how Samuel fits in with Okafor so if this deal were to go down, look for a blockbuster Emeka trade post-moratorium.
Rod Higgins gives Promise Ring to T-Will?
ESPN.com reports that Terrence Williams has pulled out of his workout scheduled today with the New Jersey Nets citing an “ankle injury.” Rumor has it that T-Will was pulled aside yesterday after his one-on-one workout with Gerald Henderson and given a promise that if he’s there at number 12, the Bobcats will take him.
Seems like the Coach Brown, MJ, and Higgins agree with Jay Bilas.
Gerald Henderson shouldn’t feel bad though as the Chicago Tribune reports that the Bulls are trying to trade up into the lottery for him.
Also, Bonnell just reported that the Bobcats are not extending a qualifying offer to RFA Sean May. We saw this one coming. Don’t be surprised if May is brought back at a lower number later next month.