The NBA Draft Combine is underway in Chicago and already a ton of news is coming out of an event that at times double as the NBA’s version of the Winter Meetings that take place in baseball. When there’s that many decision makers and talent evaluators in the same place, rumors start flying. The most interesting (and logical) one yet comes from HoopsWorld’s Alex Kennedy. Kennedy reports that the Charlotte Bobcats are shopping the second pick in the draft.
“They have yet to contact Thomas Robinson, who many had penciled in as the number two pick after Anthony Davis. On Thursday afternoon, the Bobcats met with a number of players who are projected in the middle of the first round, such as Tyler Zeller, which indicates that they could be looking to move down. The Bobcats don’t seem to be in love with anyone at this point, which means a different team could be selecting second on draft night.”
The Bobcats are a mess right now and outside of Davis, there isn’t a guy in this draft that at first glance looks like a franchise cornerstone. So it makes sense that they would try to move out of the spot if it means getting some extra pieces back. Would they deal the pick to Sacramento for the number five pick and Tyreke Evans? What about talking to Portland about one of their two picks? Would Michael Jordan be interested in trying to get both of Portland’s picks to draft a couple of local guys in UNC’s Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller? Keep in mind the Minnesota Timberwolves faced this same dilemma last season and drafted Derrick Williams after they couldn’t find a suitable deal for the number two pick. It’ll be curious to see how high of a price Charlotte is asking for and whether any team will bite.
