Bobcats Draft Full of Fail

The worst run franchise in the NBA didn't disappoint at the NBA draft last night. Instead of taking the best available player (Jerryd Bayless), or a frontcourt player that would have added much needed size and uh ability(Brook Lopez), the Charlotte Bobcats decided to take point guard D.J. Augustin, an undersized point guard whose skills may not translate very well in the NBA, sort of like the gentleman picture at right.

Even more puzzling, was the Bobcats second pick (#20) in the first round, Alexis Ajinca, a twenty-year-old 7'1'' power forward out of France who epitomizes the "European project big man" cliche that has plauged NBA drafts for the past five years. Ajinca was drafted ahead of much better prospects like Kosta Koufos, Darrell Arthur, D.J. White and Mario Chalmers. All guys who could have stepped in and played right away as at least backups for the depleted Bobcats. Adding more to the hilarity are the rumors from Rick Bonnell that the Bobcats considered taking Alexis Ajinca at number 9 due to his great workouts. Do you now what happens when you draft based on workouts alone and ignore minor things like how players perform in games? Darko Milicic. Rafael Araujo. Nikoloz Tskitishvilli. That's what happens. Alexis Ajinca averaged 5 ppg and 5 rpg in France. As the recently smarter (due to his embrace of statistical measures and end of his man- crush on European workout kings) Chad Ford noted: "has there ever been a player who averaged 5 ppg or less who turned into a decent player?". The rest of the Bobcats offseason should be entertaining as well. Their best player, Gerald Wallace, who's value couldn't be lower after an injury-plauged 2008-2009 season, is on the trading block and they're about to drastically overpay for Emeka Okafor, a double double guy who should have been Dwight Howard. Don't worry though Bobcats fans, at least Adam Morrisson should be healthy enough to play this season!