Building the Charlotte Franchise

[EGarrett]

Well, with the Charlotte franchise having an official owner, they're set to enter the NBA in 2004. It's just a matter of making a few decisions and filling a few key positions. I've been an armchair coach, GM and player for years, so why not conquer new territory and be an armchair owner?

Name

First of all, the Charlotte franchise is going to need a nickname and some colors. These provide a strong visual image to build loyalty as well as team spirit. Unfortunately "Sting" is already taken. So let's get a rough list together...

Express, Devils, Blizzard, Blues, Spirits, Venom, Swordsmen, Knights, Scorpions, Beasts, Jokers, Thunder, Lasers, Vipers, Spiders, Snakes, Rollers, Steamers, Strikers, Slashers, Stalkers, Fury

After editing out terms that don't have the right ring to them, lack pizzazz, sound 80's, have negative connotations or are associated with other sports we have:

Blizzard, Blues, Spirits, Venom, Thunder, Vipers, Steamers, and Fury.

Steamers would be great but...well...if the team is bad the jokes from college and high school students will be way too easy. Spirits will be great for the next WNBA team...especially if it's in St. Louis. I like Blues...since the color Blue is so associated with the state of North Carolina (UNC, Duke, and the Hornets all wear or wore different shades of it) so we could keep that tradition going. Plus since the Blues is a type of music related to Jazz it would be a slight to the city of New Orleans. The team could wear gold, black and electric blue.


Now the Charlotte Blues need a coach...

Names Considered - Jeff Van Gundy, Chuck Daly, Mike Kryzewski, Mike Dunleavy, Eddie Jordan, Donnie Nelson

Chuck Daly and Mike Dunleavy would both work cheap and have loads of coaching experience...but we want someone to bring in some buzz or excitement. Eddie Jordan and Donnie Nelson are two of the league's best assistant coaches...Jordan has been a head coach before if I'm not mistaken but Donnie hasn't. Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Kryzewski are the top two candidates but Kryzewski has a good thing going at Duke and probably wouldn't accept the invitation even at an offer of being the highest paid coach in the league. Jeff Van Gundy is entertaining offers of a number of jobs. In an effort to create some excitement and appeal to local fans I'd extend a big money offer to Mike Kryzewski (sp?)...then Van Gundy...but assuming they turn me down I'd go with Donnie Nelson.

The Charlotte Blues with Donnie Nelson as the head coach. Who's going to be our GM?

The choice is actually two simple words. Maurizio Gherardini. You may not know who he is...but you know Toni Kukoc, Zeljko Rebraca, Bostjan Nachbar and Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Well Maurizio recruited them all as GM of Europe's Benetton Treviso team in the Italian League. Treviso are also not the richest team in the Italian league but are the perennial champions. This would extend the European influx to NBA front offices but I think the guy would do a helluva job.

Obiviously building a franchise is a lot of work...and Robert Johnson, Charlotte's new owner, has his work cut out for him. With time though, and the right decisions, he can bring some excitement back to the city. These choices would be a good start.

[Andrew]

I don't know about the name Blues...it's a logical choice based on the colours of the other sporting teams, but to me it just doesn't sound like the name of an NBA team. From your shortlist, I like Thunder, though I can see their logo ending up looking like Golden State's if that namewas to be chosen.

I would pick Chuck Daly as the head coach, if he was willing to take the job. Because it would be an expansion Franchise, the roster would probably look something like the Grizzlies and Raptors teams in their first season of play - a lottery pick rookie (Big Country Reeves and Stoudamire), a second rounder who may or may not become something in the league (Lawrence Moten, Jimmy King), and players from the expansion draft that no one wanted, essentially unproven young players hungry for court time (Carlos Rogers, Zan Tabak), and aging veterans looking for a chance at one last run and maybe a chance at finally being a top gun for the team (Willie Anderson, John Salley, Benoit Benjamin, Byron Scott, Gerald Wilkins).

So why Daly? The same reason he was coach of the 1992 Dream Team. He's a player's coach who knows how to control 12 egos, and he has championship experience and basketball know-how. He's been out of the league a few years so it could be argued he's not as in touch as someone like Nelson, Van Gundy or Eddie Jordan, but I think he'd do a good job.

GM...I couldn't pick. But if Donnie Nelson was to leave the Mavs and take the Charlotte job, then perhaps he could take this role as well. He could take a page from his father's book, since the senior Nelson has put together an excellent team, after most of us deemed him crazy when he took the job in 1996/97, and traded away most of the team's talent.

Just my take on things.

[Rens]

When will the expansiondraft be? Can players whose contract ends this summer be asked to wait to sign by their team so they don't have to be protected, and after the draft sign them?

[GS/SC]

Name: The Charlotte Rebels (also a name familiar in Charlotte's history)

Coach: Paul Westphal
He coached the Phoenix Suns for 3+ years, in which he guided them to 191-88 record, and the 1993 NBA finals. He also coached the Sonics for two years, his first year being 1998. He now coaches at Pepperdine University, getting a 22-9 record in his first year. He also coached the winning West team in the 1993 All-Star game.

[Rens]

What players do you think they'll end up with?
There's a lot to consider for this ofcourse, but I don't think they'll pick up Stoudamire as that guy wrote in his column. More likely Eisley or Ward from the Knicks? Brevin Knight anyone?
For center they'll likely end up with a decent-to-bad player, maybe someone servicable but injury prone. Potapenko could be an option or Booth, they can probably get Fortson too. Marc Jackson could be a possible pickup. Maybe Juwan Howard would sign with them?

Does anyone have enough time to simulate an entire expansion draft for himself, and post it here?

[GS/SC]

I'm not sure, but an expansion draft is a draft in which the team can chose 10 players from 10 different NBA teams. All NBA teams can protect 8 of their players. The other two players are Charlotte's draft picks. That's an expansion draft, right?

[Rens]

Don't they have to pick at least 12 players in the expansion draft? Or is that figure including the regular draft?

[GS/SC]

I just found an article in the USA Today:

Here's how the team will be stocked:

Expansion draft: At the conclusion of the 2003-04 season, each team will be allowed to protect eight players from those under contract for the 2004-05 season. Charlotte will have to take at least 14 players from the other teams but can't take more than one player from any team. Teams also can make other deals that are workable under the salary cap, such as financial inducements to take certain players or acquiring players from Charlotte's expansion roster in trades. The types of players teams usually don't protect in the expansion draft are older players or players with long-term contracts the team wants to dump. The Portland Trail Blazers' Damon Stoudamire, who has lost his starting job and going into the 2004-05 season will be entering the final year of his contract being owed $15.8 million, is a prime example.

The college draft: After getting the fourth overall pick in the 2004 draft, Charlotte will not have any restrictions in subsequent drafts, meaning it could get the top overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Free agents: The team will be able to sign free agents just like any other team.

[Andrew]

As I said before, the expansion draft will most likely bring them a mix of unproven youth and washed up/aging veterans whom the other 29 teams do not see the need to protect. As Dan said, the chances of a player like Stoudamire joining another expansion franchise in its first year are slim, as the Blazers would probably get more for him in a trade. Still, if they can only protect 8 players, they might want to protect guys like Antonio Daniels and Jeff McInnis who are playing more significant minutes.

In general, teams are not going to leave their top players unprotected, so the new Charlotte franchise won't be getting any Shaqs, Kobes, Iversons, McGradys or Duncans. They probably won't even be able to get a Todd MacCulloch or Howard Eisley.

[Stevan]

hmmm how about the "Charlotte Speed"... I like that name but I know it might be considered disrespectfull because of Bobby Phills' death.

...and now... the starting centre of your Charlotte *fill in name here*, ACIEEEEE, EEEAAARRLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EGarrett]

Charlotte could just rip somebody from teams like the Clippers, Pacers and Blazers...who can't protect all their good players.

Clippers (of course their team will be different next offseason but for example)

C Olowokandi
F Brand
F Odom
G Richardson
G Miller
F Maggette
G Jaric
F Wilcox

(Unprotected)
SG Piatkowski
CF Ely
CF Wang
PG Dooling

I'd take Ely...a solid developing c/f...

Wizards

F Kwame Brown
G Stackhouse
G Hughes
F Laettner
C Haywood
F Jeffries
G Lue
G Dixon

(Unprotected)
C White
F Oakley
C Thomas

I'd take White...solid center, rebounder...

Blazers

C Davis
F Wallace
F Pippen
G Wells
G Daniels
G McInnis
G Anderson
G Woods

(Unprotected)

G Stoudamire
F Randolph
F Patterson

I'd take Stoudamire...he's a good point and we're not going to have any max players for awhile anyway.

Pacers

C Miller
F O'Neal
F Artest
G Miller
G Tinsley
F Bender
F Harrington
G Mercer

(Unp)

F Croshere
G Jones
C Foster

It's between Croshere and Jones...I'd go with Jones.

That gives you Melvin Ely, Fred Jones, Damon Stoudamire and Jahidi White...you won't be great but you won't embarass yourselves either...you have some young or developing guys and you'll be in the lottery long enough.

[Nick]

EGarrett,
Where did you get the information of who's interested and who isn't?
Thanks.

[EGarrett]

This was just who I assume the team's would protect. I don't think any actual declaration has been made yet from teams and probably won't be until the offseason.

[MC Hao]

Express, Devils, Blizzard, Blues, Spirits, Venom, Swordsmen, Knights, Scorpions, Beasts, Jokers, Thunder, Lasers, Vipers, Spiders, Snakes, Rollers, Steamers, Strikers, Slashers, Stalkers, Fury

How about the Charlotte Spiders! They could wear Spider-man jerseys and run around like a bunch of clowns, that's entertaining (at least for a while).

[EGarrett]

How about the Charlotte Spiders! They could wear Spider-man jerseys and run around like a bunch of clowns, that's entertaining (at least for a while).

Then team's that lose to them can endure countless headlines about being caught in "Charlotte's web."

[Andrew]

Then team's that lose to them can endure countless headlines about being caught in "Charlotte's web."

Good one. It would become a favourite of the media, right up there with Stampeding Bulls, Indiana sets Pace, Jazz play the right tune and Knixed.

[Nick]

Or if they were Charlotte Blizzard then when they win the media could say: "Another Blizzard blow out by Charlotte"

[Andrew]

How about "Blizzard leaves (opponents) cold"?

[Stevan]

they could still keep their old name in part, instead of being the "Hornets" they could be the "Whorenets", and headlines would read "Whorenets blow Lakers"

[Nick]

HAHAHA...good one stevan...How te hell do you guys think of this?

[Andrew]

instead of being the "Hornets" they could be the "Whorenets"

I'm not even going to think about the uniforms.

[Stevan]

I'm not even going to think about the uniforms.

D-Rod would probably design them, I'm guessing they would include those see through singlets, maybe with pink bike shorts? Atleast you know the players wouldn't be fined for length of shorts.

And speaking of Dennis Rodman, don't you think he would be a perfect fit for a new franchise? One more chance for D-Rod, and the franchise gets a guy who could probably still rebound a little, and is an attraction, someone to bring in the crowds.

[Andrew]

He wouldn't bring respectability, but he would certainly bring attention. Still, I think we've seen the last of the Worm in the NBA.

[EGarrett]

Who's going to be our GM?

The choice is actually two simple words. Maurizio Gherardini. You may not know who he is...but you know Toni Kukoc, Zeljko Rebraca, Bostjan Nachbar and Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Well Maurizio recruited them all as GM of Europe's Benetton Treviso team in the Italian League. Treviso are also not the richest team in the Italian league but are the perennial champions. This would extend the European influx to NBA front offices but I think the guy would do a helluva job.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1634884

Not a bad call, eh?

[paul_pierce_the_truth]

According to the report, Tapscott has interviewed all five candidates for the job -- Gherardini, Bernie Bickerstaff (Charlotte Sting), Chris Wallace (Boston Celtics), Walt Perrin (Utah Jazz) and Gary Brokaw (formerly with the Orlando Magic) -- and he is expected to meet with Bobcats owner Bob Johnson next week to discuss the candidates. A hiring decision is not expected until at least another week beyond that.

Tapscott noted that Gherardini will be hard to lure away from Italy.

"He is very comfortable where is he with Treviso," Tapscott told the paper. "But if there's any chance of getting him into the NBA, then it's worth considering."

I put Bernie Bickerstaff at the top of the list for several reasons.
Next the other three former or current NBA guys.

I doubt the shortlist of European talent has this much pull.