Maggette: Jordan will make Cats Contenders

[cdandi1]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6720953

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Corey Maggette has played 12 seasons in the NBA with only one playoff appearance. Now he's about to join a team that's never won a postseason game and has spent the past year getting rid of most of its veterans and scorers in a rebuilding movement.

But Maggette insists he was thrilled to be traded to Charlotte for three reasons: He's about to start again, play his natural position and, most important, suit up for Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.

"If you understand Michael Jordan's game -- and I'm from Chicago -- you know that he's a winner," Maggette said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters. "And eventually he's going to get to that point where he's winning."

As Jordan prepares for his sixth season in charge of the basketball operations in Charlotte and his second full year as majority owner, he'll lean on Maggette to provide immediate scoring and a much-needed veteran presence on what is now one of the NBA's most inexperienced teams.

"If you know Michael, he's definitely starting in this field as an owner and still understanding about the business of basketball," said Maggette, who got to know Jordan while growing up. "But he's an incredible winner. He knows how to win. He has incredible drive and that's something Michael will never let go."

Jordan last week sent another veteran packing in a deal he hopes gets the Bobcats closer to becoming a perennial playoff team, something he's been unable to attain as an executive with two teams.

Top scorer Stephen Jackson was shipped to Milwaukee in a three-team deal that netted the seventh overall pick in the draft from Sacramento. Included was Maggette, in large part because the $21 million he's owed over the next two seasons closely matched Jackson's contract.

But the Bobcats now need the 31-year-old Maggette to mentor a team that will feature two rookie draft picks in Bismack Biyombo and Kemba Walker, a shooting guard in Gerald Henderson who became a starter in February, and a point guard in D.J. Augustin who's been a starter for one year.

"We talked and let him know that we expect him to be a leader on and off the court," coach Paul Silas said. "He can score, but he's got to play defense. He's got to lead by example. I think he's all for it."

After a disappointing year in Milwaukee in which he was slow to recover from ankle surgery, was forced to play power forward and failed to be a factor in another non-playoff season, the 6-foot-6 Maggette has already been given the starting small forward job in Charlotte.

"He did not want to play the 4 spot. He wanted to play the 3 and that's what he's going to do," Silas said. "And he's going to start. He wasn't starting before so we're giving him everything he needs to be successful."

Maggette, who played one season at Duke before being the 13th pick in the 1999 draft, expects to be able to again become the player who three times averaged more than 20 points a game when he played for the Los Angeles Clippers.

A career 82 percent free-throw shooter, Maggette averaged 19.8 points with Golden State in 2009-10 before sinking to 12 points in 21 minutes with the Bucks.

"Coming off ankle surgery, I didn't really get the momentum that I needed early on," Maggette said. "And definitely (coach) Scott Skiles kind of played with the guys he was accustomed to playing. So it was a different experience, but it was also an opportunity for me to grow and mature as a person."

Maggette was initially confused about the trade that brought him back to North Carolina.

On a flight to Chicago to attend a wedding, Maggette was awoken by a friend who told him only that he had been traded to Charlotte. Maggette immediately was happy because he thought he'd be reunited with Jackson, his friend and former teammate with the Warriors.

Maggette didn't know until after he got off the plane Jackson was headed to the Bucks in another shake-up to Jordan's roster.

" 'Jack' wasn't happy about it," Maggette said. "He was really happy about being in Charlotte and the fans there and the organization as well as Michael."

Now Maggette and Jordan are paired. A Duke guy will try to help a North Carolina guy during a transition period for a franchise that's been to the playoffs as many times as Maggette.

Yet Maggette is confident Jordan will soon attract free agents -- "Who wouldn't want to play for Michael Jordan?" -- and compared some of his struggles as an executive to Dallas owner Mark Cuban's resume.

"He pushed, he pushed and pushed and now he's got that opportunity where he got himself a championship," Maggette said. "So I know Michael is going to be in the same position where he's going to do that as well."

Glad to have Maggette, even though we might not even have a season...

[King Taharqa]

Mike brings in another Dukie. I hope Maggette steps up big for us this season. I found this quote interesting though...

On a flight to Chicago to attend a wedding, Maggette was awoken by a friend who told him only that he had been traded to Charlotte. Maggette immediately was happy because he thought he'd be reunited with Jackson, his friend and former teammate with the Warriors.

Maggette didn't know until after he got off the plane Jackson was headed to the Bucks in another shake-up to Jordan's roster.

" 'Jack' wasn't happy about it," Maggette said. "He was really happy about being in Charlotte and the fans there and the organization as well as Michael."

[Stroupe-a-loop]

Well, he's totally not going to have to worry about playing power forward. We have plenty of those guys.

[BOBCATS_BALL!]

Maggette could be our leading scorer this coming season, unless Kemba or Hendo have a huge season. I could see Maggette averaging 20 plus and being a fantasy sleeper.

I still hope we lose a ton and get the best SF prospect in a long time in Harrison Barnes.

[pantherfan49]

I still hope we lose a ton and get the best SF prospect in a long time in Harrison Barnes.

Kevin Durant says hi.

[BOBCATS_BALL!]

Kevin Durant says hi.

4-5 years is a long time.....lol

[Get_on_my_horse]

Always liked Maggette.

[pantherfan49]

4-5 years is a long time.....lol

Fair enough

[GotSwag?]

Kevin Durant says hi.

Im starting to get the feeling this organization is smarter than it appears.

1) Drafting of Kemba Walker - brings a household name(ala Cam Newton) to a city that needs a star. Not saying Kemba will be a star, but a guy that can not only sell jerseys, but more importantly win some games.

2) Drafting of Bismack Biyombo - A big guy with a ton of potential. Worst case scenario, he is strictly a defensive stopper inside with no offensive skills, but would still be very valuable if we want to contend in the future.

3) Trading for Maggette - We got Biyombo for him, got rid of some players for him, and are now giving Maggette a chance to start at his naturally position and this is a brilliant move. Hes got just 2 yrs left on his contract, so if he doesnt play all that well, its okay bc he'll be a FA in 2 seasons. If he does play well, his value would go up and sure he makes 21 mil total for 2 seasons but a team contending "probably" would come calling.

4) Holding onto Diaw - Im starting to get the feeling we will hold onto Diaw. Same thing with Diaw as with Maggette. He plays horrible, oh well hes a FA after the season. He plays well, a team will come calling.

In the end, 2012 draft is loaded, and we already have 2 1st rd pick to keep building. If Maggette and Diaw play well, who knows, maybe we can acquire more picks or young players to build. Bobcats are heading in the right direction.

[cdandi1]

Im starting to get the feeling this organization is smarter than it appears.

1) Drafting of Kemba Walker - brings a household name(ala Cam Newton) to a city that needs a star. Not saying Kemba will be a star, but a guy that can not only sell jerseys, but more importantly win some games.

2) Drafting of Bismack Biyombo - A big guy with a ton of potential. Worst case scenario, he is strictly a defensive stopper inside with no offensive skills, but would still be very valuable if we want to contend in the future.

3) Trading for Maggette - We got Biyombo for him, got rid of some players for him, and are now giving Maggette a chance to start at his naturally position and this is a brilliant move. Hes got just 2 yrs left on his contract, so if he doesnt play all that well, its okay bc he'll be a FA in 2 seasons. If he does play well, his value would go up and sure he makes 21 mil total for 2 seasons but a team contending "probably" would come calling.

4) Holding onto Diaw - Im starting to get the feeling we will hold onto Diaw. Same thing with Diaw as with Maggette. He plays horrible, oh well hes a FA after the season. He plays well, a team will come calling.

In the end, 2012 draft is loaded, and we already have 2 1st rd pick to keep building. If Maggette and Diaw play well, who knows, maybe we can acquire more picks or young players to build. Bobcats are heading in the right direction.

Bobcats need to ship augustin, diaw, and maggette and load up with first rounders for next year. Having three firsts next year would lay the ground work for years to come...

[pantherfan49]

Im starting to get the feeling this organization is smarter than it appears.

This is the plan of action that they should have taken years ago.

Instead they busted on Felton (as far as Felton, at least where he was drafted), May, Ammo, Ajinca, and a few others. Then they overpaid for their own guys. Then they brought in LB who tried to bandaid over the team by acquiring shitty contracts for OK players.

For real Bobcats fans, we know that the Bobcats had some really shitty luck also. They should have gotten the #1 pick when Howard came out. Howard was awful as a rookie and the Bobs would have lost more games and then been in the position to get Chris Paul. If that had happened, the team would likely have a nucleus of CP3, Howard, and Gerald Wallace. That's actually a championship caliber team.

[BOBCATS_BALL!]

Im starting to get the feeling this organization is smarter than it appears.

1) Drafting of Kemba Walker - brings a household name(ala Cam Newton) to a city that needs a star. Not saying Kemba will be a star, but a guy that can not only sell jerseys, but more importantly win some games.

2) Drafting of Bismack Biyombo - A big guy with a ton of potential. Worst case scenario, he is strictly a defensive stopper inside with no offensive skills, but would still be very valuable if we want to contend in the future.

3) Trading for Maggette - We got Biyombo for him, got rid of some players for him, and are now giving Maggette a chance to start at his naturally position and this is a brilliant move. Hes got just 2 yrs left on his contract, so if he doesnt play all that well, its okay bc he'll be a FA in 2 seasons. If he does play well, his value would go up and sure he makes 21 mil total for 2 seasons but a team contending "probably" would come calling.

4) Holding onto Diaw - Im starting to get the feeling we will hold onto Diaw. Same thing with Diaw as with Maggette. He plays horrible, oh well hes a FA after the season. He plays well, a team will come calling.

In the end, 2012 draft is loaded, and we already have 2 1st rd pick to keep building. If Maggette and Diaw play well, who knows, maybe we can acquire more picks or young players to build. Bobcats are heading in the right direction.

I agree with most of what your saying. But the Cats only have one 12 first rounder right now and if it isnt a lottery pick it will go to Chicago. They have two 2013 first rounders though.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

For real Bobcats fans, we know that the Bobcats had some really pooty luck also. They should have gotten the #1 pick when Howard came out. Howard was awful as a rookie and the Bobs would have lost more games and then been in the position to get Chris Paul. If that had happened, the team would likely have a nucleus of CP3, Howard, and Gerald Wallace. That's actually a championship caliber team.

I think, if we'd gotten the first pick that year, we would have taken Emeka anyway. It was fairly surprising that they liked Howard better.

[pantherfan49]

I think, if we'd gotten the first pick that year, we would have taken Emeka anyway. It was fairly surprising that they liked Howard better.

Then our management should burn in hell.