Unlike the rest of the basketball world I like the Charlotte Bobcats decision to trade their rights to the eight pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, Brandon Wright out of University of North Carolina, to the Golden State Warriors for proven veteran Jason Richardson. During this crazy off-season the Bobcats have traded for Richardson, drafted Jared Dudley out of Boston College, and resigned Matt Carroll and my boy Gerald Wallace. For all the bad press Michael Jordan receives about being a terrible Team President, I think he is doing a great job.

Did the Charlotte Bobcats really need to get any younger? Be Honest. Was Brandon Wright going to able to compete at a high level this season or next? Nope. Personally, I think Wright is a glorified Stromile Swift, maybe a Hakim Warrick if he’s lucky. Why all the hate on the ACC Freshman of the Year you ask? Wright has no heart and no competitive desire that makes great athletes. How can you not compete in your pre-draft workouts? In case you did not know, when Wright worked out for teams he sat out of group competition. Whether it was Joakim Noah, Spencer Hawes, or Al Harford, Brandon Wright would sit it out and watch from the bench. What future star sits out of competition? One that has no fire and will be in the D-League next year, that’s who. Do you think MJ, Bird, Magic, Kobe, KG, Durant, Melo, Wade, or J-Rich, sits out of competition? Hell No! They’d say I’m the best, bring it on, I am not afraid of anyone. Can you picture MJ or Kobe rocking back and forth all jittery trying to obey their agent and sit out of workouts? Brandon Wright wouldn’t even bench-press at the rookie combine… Durant couldn’t bench 185lbs once, but at least he tried. Everyone bashes Yi Jianlian for refusing to workout against any competition other than a chair, but Wright gets a free pass? Give me a break. Give me a guy like…

Jason Richardson is a great fit for the Charlotte Bobcats. Richardson works hard, plays defense, and is a high flier. Not only will Jason Richardson help sell tickets he’ll stay out of trouble and won’t complain if their not winning. J-Rich is going to lead by example in Charlotte and is exactly what this young team needs. Partnering him with Gerald Wallace gives the Bobcats two very athletic and defensive wings to join with Raymond Felton to form an exciting back court. Just wait until these guys make Sportscenter every night. There are some complaints about how much money Richardson makes, but it pales in comparison to blunder Magic did when they gave Rashard the max and no one is talking about that.

The Bobcats are going to be competitive this year. With the additions of Richardson and Dudley this team has the potential to shock a lot of people in the East. Dudley is a great fit for this team, he can score, rebound, and is an outstanding defender. I don’t think people understand how good defensively this team has become. With any combination of Richardson/Wallace/Dudley on the floor acompanying Emeka Okafor patrolling the lane you have a very good defensive basketball team. With the continued development of Walter “Fabio� Hermann and if Adam Morrison can get his game together and earn some minutes this team has some potential. Look for the Bobcats to compete for the 8th spot in the playoffs this season and if they pull an upset like the Warriors did this year I’ll try not to say I told you so.