Post Draft Analysis

Published by Kevin | Filed under NBA

How did Stephen A. Smith get a sports analyst job in the first place? When is the last time that anyone you know actually had anything positive to say about the guy. I usually go so far as changing the channel when Smith comes on t.v. He berates the Charlotte Bobcats for making a trade that will decidedly make them better for the next 2-3 years. The Bobcats traded the #8 pick, Brandan Wright, to the Golden State Warriors for Jason Richardson and the Warriors 2nd round pick, Jermareo Davidson. The only way this trade doesn’t improve the Bobcats is if they do not re-sign unrestricted free-agent Gerald Wallace. In my opinion, this trade should help the Bobcats to re-sign Wallace more easily, being that they are clearly now trying to contend for the playoffs. Everyone wants a chance at the playoffs, and now the Bobcats can offer Wallace around $10 million a year and a chance to do some damage in the playoffs. Plus, since Richardson does not have a great contract (although it isn’t sooo terrible either), why would they trade for Richardson’s hefty contract without the intent to bring back Wallace?

In 6 years, Wright may end up as a better player than Richardson, but by that time Wright will be on his second contract and Richardson’s contract will be expiring (or expired). In the next 2-4 years, I find it unlikely that Wright will be any better than Richardson, and J-Rich fills more of a need on the Bobcats than Wright would have. Yes, this was a deep draft, but if Richardson was a member of this draft- knowing what we now know about him- wouldn’t he be picked in the top 8 anyways? I believe that he would. People often get blinded by the majestic “upside” this time of year, and forget how few of these players actually pan out. Richardson is a sure thing. He was a major part of the Warriors run to the second round of the playoffs. Imagine what kind of damage he can do in the Eastern Conference, especially with Gerald Wallace on the other wing.

The Bobcats have built this team by mainly trying to only hit doubles with all of their draft picks. So far that has worked out pretty well with Okafor, Felton and May. Wright may have been a home run, but he also could’ve easily been a strike out. Richardson is a well-proven commodity, who in my book equals out to a solid stand up triple.