The Charlotte Bobcats enter the NBA Draft in a position becoming all too familiar with their fans. They have a new coach, a struggling on-court product and are once again selecting lower in the NBA Draft than their woeful record indicates they should due to the NBA's draft lottery system.
NBA Draft 2013: Charlotte Bobcats seek star player on shallow roster
The Charlotte Bobcats need a player to build around in the 2013 NBA Draft. Can they find that player at No. 4 overall?
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Michael Jordan's soon-to-be Hornets have potential to build around in the form of Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Jeffrey Taylor and Bismack Biyombo, but newly-hired head coach Steve Clifford and top assistant Patrick Ewing have their work cut out for them if the front office isn't able to ace the draft.
Draft picks
The Bobcats dropped a few spots in the lottery to No. 4 overall, but that isn't such a bad thing because they won't be forced to reach for someone not worthy of being selected higher. The Bobcats could've been in a much better place, however, as the Portland Trail Blazers and Detroit Pistons would've also sent their first-round picks to Charlotte if they drafted later than 12 and 14 respectively.
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Visit Rufus on Fire for more on the Bobcats. The Bobcats could've done worse, too, though. If Charlotte would have drafted lower than 12, the Chicago Bulls would've been given the pick as compensation for the Tyrus Thomas trade. Now, however, it just gets deferred to next season with a top-10 protection on it.
The Bobcats do not have a second-round pick, as it was dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Depth chart
Point Guard - Kemba Walker, Ramon Sessions, Jannero Pargo (free agent)
Shooting Guard - Gerald Henderson (restricted free agent), Jeff Taylor, Ben Gordon (player option)
Small Forward - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Reggie Williams (free agent)
Power Forward - Josh McRoberts (free agent), Byron Mullens (restricted free agent), Jeff Adrien (non-guaranteed), Tyrus Thomas
Center - Bismack Biyombo, DeSagana Diop (free agent), Brendan Haywood
The roster is in disarray, but at least they have first rights on Henderson, Gordon and Mullens. The Bobcats may want to keep Josh McRoberts, but he will likely be looking for more than $3.1 million he made with the Bobcats last season.
Biggest need(s)
The biggest need for Charlotte can be put pretty bluntly by just typing “talent,” because the majority of their starters could be slid over to accommodate a sure-fire contributor. Aside from that, though, a low-post scorer could be valuable and shooting on the wings would be welcome.
Potential targets
Potential targets for the Bobcats’ first-round pick are likely going to be limited, as the team can’t afford to reach too far for need when their needs are pretty limitless. Maryland center Alex Len (scouting report) could be the best fit, given Charlotte’s problems in the middle.
UNLV’s Anthony Bennett (scouting report) is another option. The Bobcats likely wouldn’t want to move Kidd-Gilchrist from his small forward spot and Bennett doesn’t quite have the height to play in the post at the NBA level, but the Bobcats could certainly use a player with Bennett’s abilities.
Charlotte could also select Indiana’s Victor Oladipo (scouting report) or Kansas’ Ben McLemore (scouting report) if they fall, though that might signal Henderson’s departure.
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