Jordan: "We're just getting started"

[BF91]

If you remember what it is like to be a kid, you remember how much fun it is to trade things.

For the current generation, it might be Silly Bandz. For the older generation, it might be baseball cards.

Still, the appeal is universal. There's a certain feeling you get when you can get rid of something you're tired of and acquire something you are excited about.

The Charlotte Bobcats are addicted to that feeling.

There is a childlike enthusiasm about the way the Bobcats deal with their roster, as owner Michael Jordan, general manager Rod Higgins and head coach Larry Brown constantly make trades in search of a team that can actually win a playoff game.

On Tuesday, they shipped Tyson Chandler to Dallas - Chandler had been shipped in here less than a year ago. The Bobcats acquired Matt Carroll - who they had traded away in 2009.

This was trade No.11, in case you're counting, in the two-year-old Larry Brown Era.

Dallas also sent the Bobcats Eduardo Najera and, most valuably, the non-guaranteed contract of Erick Dampier (as well as Dampier himself, although he's just the velvet backdrop for that glittery contract that can subtract $13 million off the payroll of any team that wants it bad enough). Charlotte sent Alexis Ajinca to the Mavericks - it's a shame he couldn't take Gana Diop with him.

And this trade is not it for Charlotte.

Far from it. It's little more than a bridge to the next deal. At least that's what I'm sure the Bobcats hope. They figure that they can turn Dampier's contract or possibly expendable forward Boris Diaw into a decent starting point guard.

That's a necessity, because I believe Brown doesn't want D.J. Augustin to be his starter at point guard if he can possibly help it.

And for all the trades the Bobcats make - and they are widely considered one of the two or three trading-est teams in the league - about 95 percent of the deals they talk about never come to fruition. That's what Higgins said Tuesday.

"You envision these trades all the time," Higgins said. "But it's like Reggie Miller or Ray Allen, taking thousands and thousands of shots just so that in a game, when they have an opportunity to hit one or two shots that are important, they can make those. We have conversation after conversation, brainstorm after brainstorm, and then a real small amount of it actually gets done."

A real small amount?

The Bobcats only have two players left on their roster since Brown got here two years ago - Gerald Wallace and Nazr Mohammed. That's stunning. It's not all because of trades, but most of it is. I guess Higgins has unlimited minutes on his phone.

But give the Bobcats this. When they do have a chance to make a shot, they have swished them far more often in trades (for players like Stephen Jackson and Tyrus Thomas) than in drafts (Adam Morrison and Sean May).

So all these trades aren't a bad thing, which is a good thing since the Bobcats have averaged almost one trade every two months since Brown has been here. They once made two trades in a single day. They've never gone more than five months during Brown's tenure without making a deal.

Jordan told me Friday, shortly after the LeBron hullabaloo: "We're not done. We're just getting started."

So the Bobcats have.

And in a matter of weeks, if not hours, you're going to see their trigger finger get itchy again

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/07/13/1561383/jordon-were-just-getting-started.html#ixzz0tfW671WD

Just a little something to calm some nerves around here. MJ and company have come up pretty good in trades and they're still working hard to make the team better.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Awesome. MJ said himself he wants to be similar to Mark Cuban. As in, doing what it takes to be a winner. I like it. I like it a lot.

[rico6]

Michael you sly sonuvabitch!

[Eazy-E]

If you were MJ, who would you be trying to get? I personally think a legit stater at center is more important than a PG. I like Sherron Collins game and hope he makes the team. So if we want a PG I am all for moving DJ.

[pdandy1994]

If you were MJ, who would you be trying to get? I personally think a legit stater at center is more important than a PG. I like Sherron Collins game and hope he makes the team. So if we want a PG I am all for moving DJ.

Me personally would rather have a legit starting PG than a center. A great PG makes everybody on the team better, a great C doesn't necessarily do that. While I would love a legit starting C, I think PG is the main priority right now.

[Eazy-E]

I agree about the PG but are we really going to use Nazr as the starter?

[pdandy1994]

I agree about the PG but are we really going to use Nazr as the starter?

We did for a little in the season, and honestly, this past year Nazr was our best bet at center just because he had at least a little bit of offensive IQ, unlike Chandler, Diop, and Ratliff.

[Eazy-E]

Yeah I agree he was our best last season but his back worries me. Injuries are why i'm glad Tyson is gone so we atleast need a center that is not injury prone.

[BF91]

EC123 blow up over PG > C in 5...4...3...2...1...

But in all seriousness, I think we're going after both. Dampier alone should net us one guy, and we'll throw some parts together to get a decent starter at the other position. Both are needs, both should get filled. Whoever threw the Dampier-Billups trade out yesterday, I am a fan of that.

[pantherfan49]

EC123 blow up over PG > C in 5...4...3...2...1...

Idiot!

[DynastyRTR]

I tried this on the NBA trade machine and it worked, I added the draft picks to make it realistic.

Bobcats get:

Baron Davis-PG

Kevin Love-PF/C

Ryan Hollins-C

Clippers get:

D.J. Augustin-PG

Boris Diaw-PF

Greg Stiemsma-C

Timberwolves get:

Nazr Mohammed-C

DeAndre Jordan-C

2 future 2nd rd picks from Bobcats

Charlotte would be looking like a real contender if this hapened.

PG-Baron Davis/Sherron Collins

SG-Stephen Jackson/Gerald Henderson

SF-Gerald Wallace/Derrick Brown

PF-Turus Thomas/Eduardo Najera

C-Kevin Love/Erick Dampier/Ryan Hollins/DeSagana Diop

[pantherfan49]

I tried this on the NBA trade machine and it worked, I added the draft picks to make it realistic.

Bobcats get:

Baron Davis-PG

Kevin Love-PF/C

Ryan Hollins-C

Clippers get:

D.J. Augustin-PG

Boris Diaw-PF

Greg Stiemsma-C

Timberwolves get:

Nazr Mohammed-C

DeAndre Jordan-C

2 future 2nd rd picks from Bobcats

Charlotte would be looking like a real contender if this hapened.

PG-Baron Davis/Sherron Collins

SG-Stephen Jackson/Gerald Henderson

SF-Gerald Wallace/Derrick Brown

PF-Turus Thomas/Eduardo Najera

C-Kevin Love/Erick Dampier/Ryan Hollins/DeSagana Diop

I doubt that the Bobs next trade won't include Dampier. Put it this way, I doubt he is scoping out real estate in Charlotte.

[rippadonn]

Now could Livingston be that PG (for now)? Or is his Airness putting together pieces for the right trade?

Keep in mind that Larry Brown makes point guards better. If Livingston is truly over this injury he could be that guy, he has a nice handle and good court vision. In a lot of ways he may be a upgrade.

[BF91]

Something bigger is coming than just Livingston being our PG. And if this big deal falls through, they've got a couple on the backburners now as back-ups.