Jordan and Carter are UNC grads, and Charlotte might be a good place for selling a returning hometown hero story.
However, Felton is a UNC grad, too. Wallace is one helluva good player, regardless of him missing 20 games last season; I think you want him IF he's going to be healthy for playoffs.
I don't know where anyone gets the idea that Felton is a good shooter. He's a decent scorer for a PG and a nice assist guy. On the short side, IMO.
http://www.charlotte.com/sports_breaking/story/690218.html
Bobcats: Felton is starter
Posted on Sat, Jun. 28, 2008
GM Higgins says drafting Augustin in first round isn't a sign of changing of guards.
Rick Bonnell
rbonnell@charlotteobserver.com
Charlotte Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins says drafting D.J. Augustin isn't intended to supplant Raymond Felton as the team's starting point guard.
Specifically, Higgins said, there's “no truth” to a report out of New York that the Bobcats might trade Felton to the Knicks for power forward David Lee.
The Bobcats used the ninth overall pick on Augustin, a 6-foot point guard out of Texas. Three years ago the Bobcats selected Felton with the fifth overall pick, but he's spent as much time at shooting guard as point guard while sharing the backcourt with Brevin Knight and Jeff McInnis.
Higgins said Augustin should be ready as a rookie to be the Bobcats' backup point guard, but there's no reason to assume he'd replace Felton as the starter next season.
“We don't think D.J. is going to come in right now and be the starting point guard,” Higgins said.
While Higgins dismissed talk of a Felton-to-Knicks trade, it's clear the Bobcats were in various trade discussions leading up to the draft.
Managing partner Michael Jordan confirmed Thursday that the team talked to the Toronto Raptors about a deal that could have swapped forward Gerald Wallace for point guard T.J. Ford.
That deal snagged when the Raptors also asked for a draft pick.
Higgins said Wallace shouldn't take offense at such talks, as it demonstrates his value around the league.
“It happens. Names come up,” Higgins said. “In some ways, that's a good thing” for the player.
Higgins said the choice of Augustin over Stanford center Brook Lopez with the ninth pick was “very close” – so close the Bobcats told Lopez's representatives Charlotte was strongly considering him.
Neither Augustin nor Lopez worked out for the Bobcats. Augustin said that was his agent's decision, adding he didn't know why no workout was set up here.
However, several of the teams he did audition for – the Los Angeles Clippers at No.7, the Indiana Pacers at No.11 and the Sacramento Kings at No.12 – each had a need for a young point guard.