Charlotte Bobcats - Better or Worse

Photo source: contemplicity

Charlotte took another step in the right direction last season.  For the first time in their six year history they finished with a record above .500 and made the playoffs.  They've built their team through the trade market over the past couple of years to match head coach Larry Brown's playing style.  They've tried to tweak it even more during the offseason by getting involved in multiple team trades, but so far none of those deals have come to fruition.  Are additional moves necessary or are the Bobcats positioned for success?

(Note: The rankings you see referenced below are fully explained in my initial NBA point guard rankings post)

Point Guard
2009 - Raymond Felton (#10 PG, Level 3), D.J. Augustin (#46 PG, Level 9)
2010 - D.J. Augustin (#46 PG, Level 9), Shaun Livingston (#45 PG, Level 9)

Point guard is the position the Bobcats have been looking to improve through trades, and for good reason.  They lost Felton to free agency and now need either Augustin to make a huge improvement or Livingston to reach the potential that injuries have prevented him from reaching.

Shooting Guard
2009 - Stephen Jackson (#15 SG, Level 4), Larry Hughes (#50 SG, Level 8)
2010 - Stephen Jackson (#15 SG, Level 4), Gerald Henderson (did not qualify in '09)

There will not be many minutes to be found behind Jackson, but those that are available are likely to go to second year man Henderson who struggled to find playing time as a rookie.  Concerns should exist about Jackson's age catching up with him.

Small Forward
2009 - Gerald Wallace (#4 SF, Level 2), Stephen Graham (#43 SF, Level 9)
2010 - Gerald Wallace (#4 SF, Level 2), Derrick Brown (#52 PF, Level 8)

Even fewer minutes will be available at small forward.  Wallace averaged 41.0 minutes a game last year while performing as well as any small forward in the league not named LeBron or Durant.

Power Forward
2009 - Boris Diaw (#43 PF, Level 7), Tyrus Thomas (#22 PF, Level 5)
2010 - Tyrus Thomas (#22 PF, Level 5), Boris Diaw (#43 PF, Level 7)

Thomas came in just before the trade deadline and played well for the Bobcats.  They rewarded him with a five-year contract.  Now it's time for him to step his game up.  Diaw played poorly last season and Charlotte has been trying to unload him.

Center
2009 - Nazr Mohammed (#8 C, Level 3), Tyson Chandler (#34 C, Level 7), Theo Ratliff (#49 C, Level 8)
2010 - Nazr Mohammed (#8 C, Level 3), DeSagana Diop (did not qualify in '09)

A weird mix of big men played for the Bobcats at center last season.  The Tyson Chandler experiment is over as they traded him to Dallas in what was basically a salary dump.  Mohammed was very productive in limited time in '09-'10.

Overall
The Bobcats had a 44-38 record in the '09-'10 season.  They lost a big piece in Felton and have really done nothing to improve their team.  Meanwhile, one of their divisional foes, the Miami Heat, have improved dramatically.  They were 3-1 against the Heat last year but that is likely to reverse in the '10-'11 season.  To maintain their standing the Bobcats will need to see major production from Augustin or Livingston at the point, while Thomas takes a big step forward at the four.  Of course, they may also, finally, secure a point guard through a trade.  But, as they are now, I've got them picking up two wins at the power forward position, staying even at shooting guard and small forward, and losing five at point guard and one at center.

In the final verdict the Bobcats are WORSE.  As they are currently constructed I predict their record to be 40-42.

What do you think?  Am I too cynical about the Bobcats?  Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.