Bobcats select few veterans, nine free agents among 19 picks

[ducks]

Bobcats select few veterans, nine free agents among 19 picks

By JENNA FRYER, AP Sports Writer
June 22, 2004

AP - Jun 22, 8:11 pm EDT


CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Choosing an assortment of players with mostly low profiles and low salaries, the Charlotte Bobcats began stocking their roster Tuesday night by selecting 19 players in the expansion draft.

Jahidi White of Phoenix, Marcus Fizer of Chicago, Gerald Wallace of Sacramento and Predrag Drobnjak of the Los Angeles Clippers were the most experienced players among the Bobcats' selections from the other 29 NBA franchises.

White, a six-year veteran, will have the highest salary of any Bobcats player -- $5.88 million. But the Bobcats received $3 million and a future first-round pick from Phoenix for agreeing to take White, who has one year remaining on his contract.

The Bobcats also selected Utah guard Aleksandar Pavlovic, who will be dealt to Cleveland for a future first-round draft pick. Pavlovic will give the Cavs a shooter to replace Jason Kapono, who was one of just four guards chosen by the Bobcats.

``What we want is players who need an opportunity to show they can play. Players talk all the time, they want PT -- playing time -- and they want to know their role. We can guarantee both,'' Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff said.

About 500 fans turned out for the ``selection show'' and greeted most of the picks with silence. Only Fizer, Wallace and White drew some applause.

But the Bobcats knew going into the draft that few of their selections would be household names. Preferring youth to star power, Charlotte is trying to slowly build a team around players with long-term potential.

ADVERTISEMENT


A big name will be added in Thursday night's NBA draft when the Bobcats select either Emeka Okafor or high school phenom Dwight Howard.

Charlotte traded the No. 4 pick to the Clippers to move up and make a run at Okafor.

Other selections by the Bobcats were: Indiana center Primoz Brezec, Lakers forward Jamal Sampson, Orlando forward Zaza Pachulia, Boston forward Brandon Hunter and Memphis forward Theron Smith.

``We think this young man is the sleeper of this election,'' Bickerstaff said of Smith, who appeared in 20 games for Memphis last season and averaged 2.2 points.

Each NBA team could protect up to eight players but had to make at least one player available.

The Bobcats drafted nine restricted free agents, thereby making them unrestricted free agents. They included Seattle guard Richie Frahm, Miami center Loren Woods, Nets forward Tamar Slay, Nuggets guard Jeff Trepagnier, Washington forward Lonnie Baxter, Golden State guard J.R. Bremer, Fizer, New Orleans guard Maurice Carter and Portland swingman Desmond Ferguson.

One glaring omission from the expansion draft was a point guard, which Bickerstaff said he'd try to get through free agency.

``We must find a point guard,'' Bickerstaff said. ``We would look for a veteran point guard to mentor the younger guys, but it is the young guys' game. A veteran will be here to give us respect with the referees and professionalism in the locker room.''

[ducks]

Bobcats add journeymen in expansion draft


June 22, 2004
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) - The most established player taken by the Charlotte Bobcats in Tuesday's expansion draft was center Jahidi White, who may not even start for them.

White was the biggest name among 19 nobodies selected by the fledgling franchise, which began filling out its roster but still needs a point guard.

At 28 and a six-year veteran, the 6-9, 290-pound White was the oldest and most experienced player chosen by the Bobcats. He also will receive $5.884 million next season, making him the team's most expensive player.

ADVERTISEMENT


However, White may not be good enough to start for Charlotte next season. On Monday, the Bobcats swung a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers to move up to the second pick in Thursday's NBA draft and will take either Connecticut standout Emeka Okafor or high school prodigy Dwight Howard, each of whom could be their starting center.

Nine players selected by the Bobcats were restricted free agents who immediately became unrestricted free agents and may not ever play a game with the club.

The 10 players under contract for next season have a combined salary of about $16 million, leaving the Bobcats approximately $14 million under their reduced salary cap of an estimated $30 million.

"There will probably be about eight of those players on our roster," Bobcats general manager Bernie Bickerstaff said.

Here's a breakdown of the current roster:

- The Bobcats selected four Europeans, including Utah Jazz guard Sasha Pavlovic of Serbia & Montenegro. The 20-year-old might be the gem of the draft.

- The Bobcats chose eight players 23 or younger and eight players coming off their rookie season. Those falling into both categories include Pavlovic and forwards Brandon Hunter of Boston, Jason Kapono of Cleveland, Zaza Pachulia of Orlando and Theron Smith of Memphis.

- Chicago forward Marcus Fizer was the only player chosen with a career scoring average in double digits. However, he was a restricted free agent and now is unrestricted.