Offseason grades: Low-bar Bobcats

Offseason grades: Low-bar Bobcats
September 16, 2013, 1:00 am
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(AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

Recently we have looked at a few grades various sites have handed out to the Wizards. Of course, context is everything. In other words, how are the other teams in the Southeast Division shaping up?

We started by analyzing's look at the Wizards, then moved south to Atlanta. Next up, Charlotte.

Bobcats, D: Let's be clear, Charlotte isn't breaking bad. No, Michael Jordan's team has been living low for a while now. If anything, the "D" grade is a sign of improvement. Let that reality sink in. After only 28 wins the past two seasons and the team not undergoing a complete roster overhaul, nobody is seeing their way to handing out a "C" right now.

Of course, last season's roster defeated the Wizards three out of four games even though Washington averaged nine more rebounds per contest. Let's just say the Wizards committing over 17 turnovers per game helped Charlotte overcome its own issues.

As for the 2013-14 season, the positives start with Al Jefferson. The beefy power forward, who played with Millsap in Utah, gives the Bobcats a "low-post anchor that they can work around." The issue is the big man isn't at the level of other notables at the same position. Fine, there is a second issue, one involving Jefferson not being that interested in sharing the basketball. Hey, it's a start.

Before Jefferson, the roster just included random parts. Some intriguing pieces like Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but collectively, shrugs. Now, well, still a random collection of who-knows-what, but having Jefferson provides a tangible building block and a threat the playmaking Walker can play off. Where new head coach Steve Clifford goes from there, who knows.