Charlotte Bobcats: 3 Bold Predictions for 2013-14

Ah, the NBA season has started. I say this while watching my hometown Chicago Bulls get crushed by the defending world champs. I’ll pretend like Tuesday night didn’t happen. While some of the marquee teams got their season started on Tuesday, most other NBA teams are set to open things up tonight. One of those teams is the Charlotte Bobcats. So, I decided to make three bold predictions for their upcoming season. Enjoy:

1. Ben Gordon will be traded

Thirteen point two. That is the number, in millions of dollars, the Bobcats are paying Ben Gordon this year. Overpriced? That is an understatement for a guy only logged 20 minutes a game last year. The good news? He is in the final year of his contract. That is good for three reasons: 1) You don’t have to pay him next year, 2) He has a trade friendly contract and 3) He has to play well this year to earn a contract for 2014-15. In the history of the NBA, and sports in general, players show up in their contract year. I see this case as no different. I fully expect Gordon to play well. Also, let’s be frank. The Bobcats are not going anywhere this season. If Gordon starts off hot, why not trade him for a draft pick or to save money? At his best, the former UConn star is top three NBA sixth man. Could a return to Chicago be in the cards? How about to New York for the Knicks? Both those squads need scoring help and so do many other playoff caliber teams. If the budget is an issue, the Bobcats can eat Gordon’s salary and get draft picks back. The possibilities are endless; if Gordon plays well.

Is Ben Gordon washed up?(NBA.com photo)

2.  Cody Zeller will win Rookie of the Year

Honestly this is the weakest NBA draft class I have ever seen. I don’t see any of these players turning into consistent All-Stars. I believe most of the hype around Victor Oladipo and Ben McLemore is created because some rookie has to be projected as the “next big thing.” Well, too bad. If you put any player from the 2013 draft in the 2012 one, they don’t get picked in the top seven, probably top 10.  The seventh pick in 2012 was Harrison Barnes. Would you have taken any of this year’s rookies over him? With a weak rookie class, the ROY award is wide open. So, I like the pick the players that will get the most minutes. I think Cody Zeller will log nearly 25 minutes a game in Charlotte. I’m projecting about a 10-point, six-rebound stat line and sadly I think that is good enough to take home the trophy.

Can he bring home ROY?

3. The Bobcats will NOT be one of the 5 worst teams in the NBA

This is considered bold, right? Sadly, yes. Let’s take a look at the teams that the Bobcats will most likely be better than: Philadelphia and Phoenix. Can we all agree on that? I think the addition of Al Jefferson propels Charlotte above Orlando, Atlanta, Sacramento and Utah.  If Boston trades Rajon Rondo, then I have the Bobcats ahead of them as well. Charlotte will turn some heads this year, don’t sleep on them.

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