Charlotte Bobcats Must Add Depth in the Draft and in Free Agency

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Following a year of significant personnel moves, the Bobcats have put together a solid starting lineup: Raymond Felton, Raja Bell, Gerald Wallace, Boris Diaw, and Emeka Okafor.  No superstars, but this unit was very effective against other starting units in the NBA. 

Unfortunately, the starters were required to play significant minutes due to a lack of depth.  Of the five, only Okafor averaged less than 35 minutes per game for the season (both Bell and Diaw averaged over 35 minutes per game after being traded to the Bobcats while their numbers with the Suns were lower). 

At the conclusion of the season, only two other Bobcats averaged over 20 minutes per game: DJ Augustin and Vladimir Radmanovic.  Radmanovic only played 20 games after being acquired via trade with the Lakers.  No other current player averaged over 15.

For some perspective, the NBA Champion Lakers played only Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol in excess of 35 minutes per game while four other players averaged 20+ minutes and four more averaged 15+.

There is no question that players are more efficient when better rested.  On several occasions, the Bobcats gave away seemingly comfortable leads late in games.  For example, on April 1, 2009, the Bobcats allowed the Boston Celtics to score the last eight points of regulation to force overtime.  The Celtics would eventually win in double OT.

My explanation for this lapse is simply fatigue, both physical and mental.  The Bobcats lost their edge in the final minutes of regulation to let the Celtics find a way back into the game.

That being said, the Bobcats have the 12th, 40th, and 54th picks in the 2009 NBA Draft on Thursday night to add some fresh talent to the roster. 

With the first round pick, I expect the Bobcats to pick a wing player to contribute early, such as Gerald Henderson or Terrence Williams.  The two second rounders are hard to guess, but both of these players will get a chance at playing in Charlotte.

However, there are several attractive targets for the Bobcats in free agency.  Fitting with the team-oriented theme in Charlotte, I have put together a list of my favorite mid-level free agents who could potentially be acquired by the Bobcats without harming the salary cap status.

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