Charlotte Bobcats: 4 Ways to Save the Struggling Franchise

The Charlotte Bobcats are the worst team in the NBA by far. That fact was emphasized after their 95-64 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday. In an embarrassing display, one could not help but wonder where exactly is the franchise headed.

The Bulls loss, coupled with a loss to the Clippers, represent the franchise record tying (and breaking) consecutive losing streak that is now at 14 games.  

While I am unsure about the future of the Bobcats, I can offer some possible solutions. Give Bobcat fans a glimmer of hope.

The Bobcats must cut their losses and fire coach Paul Silas.

Paul Silas is a solid NBA coach with an average record. His tough, disciplinarian coaching style was said to have cost him his last coaching job in Cleveland, where he was the coach to then rookie phenom LeBron James. 

He recognized his coaching errors in Cleveland, but it was far too late, as he watched a very talented team go from first in the division, to completely out of the playoff picture. Silas is a fighter who eventually gave up his battles with a team that was clearly tuning him out.

The most disturbing thing about the Bulls game is the apparent lack of focus that the Bobcats players displayed. There was no fight in them. Just as there was no fight in Silas.

It was a clear sign that it's time for a change.

As for a new coach, the Bobcats should go with a young up-and-coming coaching prospect, and my suggestions would be former NBA standouts Eric Snow, who is an analyst for NBA TV, or former Michael Jordan teammate Reggie Theus.

Trade assets for draft picks.

The Bobcats are guaranteed to be in the NBA Draft Lottery after the season, and as history suggests, just because you are the team with the worst record, it does not translate into the top pick of the draft. Thankfully for the Bobcats, this year's draft is shaping up to be a pretty deep one, with several underclassmen perhaps looking to test the NBA waters.

The top pick means Kentucky's defensive dynamo Anthony Davis, if he decides to go pro. I personally hope that he does not because he is clearly raw on offense, and while defensively he is a man amongst boys, another year at Kentucky can do for him what a sophomore season did for Blake Griffin.

Despite the 3-24 record, the Bobcats have players that they can trade in Boris Diaw, D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson. 

Henderson they will most likely keep, but as for Diaw and Augustin, they can get a first-round pick for either of them, as potential playoff teams will be looking for the final pieces they believe can put them over the top.

Teams like the Rockets and the Hawks needs size (Diaw) while teams like the Lakers and Celtics need scoring in their backcourt (Augustin).

Each team has first-round draft picks (Rockets have two) and may or may not be interested in bringing in young players from the draft. The Bobcats can capitalize on this in order to grab an additional young piece, or if they do not wind up with the top pick, trade the pick that they have for a star player.

Develop the youth.

I understand that Bismack Biyombo does not have many offensive moves, but he does have a pretty damn good hook shot. There is no reason why the Bobcats cannot run a couple of plays for him on offense. DeSagana Diop is the perfect example of what happens when a team does not hire a good "big-man" coach. The Bobcats franchise will be set back for five more seasons if Biyombo is not coached properly.

Here is a solution: Hire Patrick Ewing as head coach, and kill two birds with one stone.

Also, the Bobcats must give playing time to Byron Mullens and Derrick Brown. Give them some true court experience with hopes that they can blossom into solid NBA players.

Change the team colors.

This very last solution on the list is a matter of personal preference. The blue and orange colors are hideous.

Merchandising is really important for revenue purposes. It would not matter if Michael Jordan came out of retirement again; the Bobcats' blue and orange jersey would not sell.

It is this element that will create a buzz, and this is a team that surely needs it. They should go with the Tar Heel blue, much like the University of North Carolina. This would appeal to local fans, and give them the "college feel" that the Thunder have with their fan base.

The Bobcats have a ways to go in regards of gaining respectability, but as a solutions-oriented person, if they try these suggestions, respectability would not be that far away.