Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

The Charlotte Bobcats are coming off of a rare two game winning streak, which will continue to keep the wolves at bay for a few more days.  Yet it’s inevitable that the Bobcats will still need plenty of help in due time to turn from a promising franchise to a competitive franchise.

With that in mind, today marks the first day of March Madness, and there is plenty of talent spread across the country at the college level.  Today, teams will attempt to cement the idea that they belong in the Field of 64, doing everything they can to get to the next round on their way to greatness.

Every team has performed well to make it this far; yet, not every team has players with NBA-ready talent that could become available to the Bobcats this June.  With sixteen games on tap for today, here are some potential draftees the Bobcats may have to decide on in a few months time.  If you get a chance to watch them in action, take notice; they could be the future of your Charlotte Bobcats.

February 12, 2013; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Nerlens Noel (3) is checked on by head coach John Calipari after suffering an knee injury against the Florida Gators during the second half at the Stephen C. O

Nerlens Noel doesn’t have any fractured or broken bones, but after suffering a gruesome knee injury against Florida on Tuesday, Sportscenter says he has a torn ACL.

He was a consensus lottery pick heading into the season, and that hadn’t changed… Until now.

Who knows if Noel will even enter the draft after this injury.

Kyrie Irving sat out a significant portion of his only college season and still went one-and-done. It’s worked out pretty well for him.

But to the question at hand: Will this injury affect how Charlotte drafts this year?

I’m inclined to say no, just because I don’t think the Bobcats were really looking at drafting him.

I don’t care what ESPN or any other draft prognosticator says. Even if Noel was still healthy today, Charlotte’s top five should look like this:

1. Cody Zeller: A legit center, a great rebounder, and a young player who already has a well rounded post game on offense.
2. Ben McLemore: A big, athletic guard who knows how to score. He’s a solid three point shooter and intense defender.
3. Anthony Bennett: A strong, athletic power forward with a decent, and improving, jumper (and three-point shot).
4. Shabazz Muhammed: Another offensively talented, big man-child who can turn into a guy that can realistically play the 2-through-4 positions.
5. Nerlens Noel: A defensively minded, tall, lanky shot blocker. He’s got a high ceiling, but isn’t close to the most offensively gifted player in the draft.

Charlotte drafted an offensive project last year. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was brought in to be the heart and soul of the Bobcats’ defense and provide the ‘Cats with energy, emotion and leadership. While you can’t ever have too many of those guys, the Bobcats really need to get better on the glass and at putting the ball in the basket.

Obviously our thoughts are with Noel right now and we hope for a speedy recovery.

Mar 24, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Charlotte Bobcats point guard D.J. Augustin (14) drives to the basket against New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first half at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

For what seems like the millionth time for a franchise that has only existed nine seasons, a first round draft pick has left the Queen City for nothing.

Adam Morrison busted. Sean May busted. Emeka Okafor was traded for Tyson Chandler, who was then traded for a flaming bag of crap. Raymond Felton left as an unrestricted free agent. Jared Dudley (and Jason Richardson) was traded for Boris Diaw (and others), who quit on the Bobcats in 2012 and was a major reason the team posted the worst record in the history of the sport. Alexis Ajinca was a joke.

Now DJ Augustin has left the franchise to sign with the Indiana Pacers. The former no. 9 pick scored 10.9 points, dished out 4.4 assists and grabbed two rebounds a game in four seasons for the Bobcats. Charlotte rescinded his $4.4 million qualifying offer (which made him a restricted free agent) after signing Ramon Sessions for two seasons.

The Bobcats tried to get something back for him after he turned down a possible contract extension (Felton turned one of those down too), shopping him around to contenders at the trade deadline. He was also in a few discussions for sign-and-trades this off season, before Charlotte signed Sessions.

There is a new group of players with promise on Charlotte’s roster; Gerald Henderson (despite his numbers last year) is a good wing defender with a developing offensive game. Kemba Walker put up solid numbers his rookie season, and Mike Dunlap is crafting his up-tempo offense around the former UConn star. Bismack Biyombo played well last year, considering he was the youngest player in the league, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Jeffrey Taylor are great prospects at the small forward position.

Right now, though, the sting of losing another first round draft pick for nothing hurts. For those who follow hoops in Charlotte, it will hurt until those players mentioned above are good enough to ease nine seasons of pain.

June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; A general view of the first round draft board at the conclusion of the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

It was a slow, maddening, hopeless morning, until I saw this tweet (kind of) about the Charlotte Bobcats:

2006 07 Topps Adam Morrison Charlotte Bobcats Basketball Rookie Card #216 – Mint Condition – Shipped In Protecti… amzn.to/HFxSXY

— Lenore Tillman (@eyurchuk) July 7, 2012

An Adam Morrison rookie card for 12 freaking dollars? Naturally, I started to think. “What in God’s name is the collective worth of each individual rookie card of the players drafted in the first round by the Charlotte Bobcats?”

It was a noble pursuit, but a hard one. I decided Ebay was the best “decider-of-value”, then focused my attention on figuring out every player Charlotte has drafted in the first round since the Bobcats were born.

There wasn’t a single bid on an actual Morrison Bobcats rookie card, and the most expensive “Buy it Now”, non autographed, Topps card was a “luxury box” edition, of which only 499 were produced. The card was selling for 10 dollars.

Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo didn’t have any Bobcats rookie cards on Ebay, so my search shifted to Gerald Henderson. He’s had an OK tenure in the NBA so far, so I was surprised to see that the most expensive non glitzy-gold-plated-mega-super-duper card cost just five dollars.

Alexis Ajinca’s rookie card is worth at most nine dollars (buy it now) and at least 15 cents (bid ending soonest). D.J. Augustin’s is worth 10 dollars, Jared Dudley’s is worth five dollars and Brandan Wright’s could net you 10 dollars.

Sean May’s rookie card costs five dollars and his draft-mate Raymond Felton’s card is worth six bucks.

Finally, Emeka Okafor, the first player ever drafted in the first round by the Charlotte Bobcats, has a normal, non autographed rookie card worth around nine dollars.

Again, these numbers were secured in the most technologically advanced of ways: Sifting through Ebay until I found the first normal, non autographed, non special edition rookie card of each player (my search setting was highest price first).

With that in mind, if you had one rookie card from each of the players Charlotte selected in the first round since the Bobcats’ inception, you would be sitting on about 69 bucks if you were lucky.

Hopefully there’s some free agent news to talk about later. If not, I might just put my head through a wall.

June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky) walks off the stage after being introduced as the number two overall pick to the Charlotte Bobcats during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

The Charlotte Bobcats selection of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was widely hailed as the first good draft choice Michael Jordan or a team associated with him as an owner/executive has made in a long time.

But Ryan Feldman of ESPN’s True Hoop doesn’t think the pick made sense.

Feldman says “the Bobcats needed offense” and cited their last place standing in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and points per play on jumpshots as proof.

Sure the Bobcats could’ve went with an offensive minded player like Bradley Beal, and that pick wouldn’t have been a bad one.

BUT, if they did go with Beal, Feldman would’ve come out with an article saying Beal doesn’t make sense for Charlotte either.

He would’ve probably cited Charlotte’s last place standing in defensive ranking (points produced allowed per 100 possessions),  their next-to-last ranking in opponents field goal percentage, and their next-to-last ranking in steals as proof.

The last time (only time) the Bobcats made the playoffs, they did it on the strength of their defense, and the next time they make the playoffs it’ll be in a similar fashion.

June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky) walks off the stage after being introduced as the number two overall pick to the Charlotte Bobcats during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

The Charlotte Bobcats had to have the best draft in franchise history Thursday night, and by all accounts, they did.

A few have questioned why the Bobcats didn’t trade out of the second spot to amass assets, but Rich Cho knows what he’s doing, and if he didn’t like the offers he received more than Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, I have to believe he made the right choice.

Speaking of MKG, how did the Bobcats do with his selection? Well, in my book they get an:

A+

With Corey Maggette out of the picture, Kidd-Gilchrist will be the Charlotte Bobcats starting small forward from day one.

He was the second best defender in the draft, he can get to the rim in transition and the half court and he’s a monster athlete.

The only flaw in MKG’s game is his jump shot, but he’s been described as a “coach’s dream” so he very well could get those kinks worked out.

Even if he doesn’t become a great shooter, this guy has a long career in the NBA ahead of him; One of the first things he said after being drafted was “I’m ready to lead.”

The Charlotte Bobcats might not have made any moves to get another first rounder in the 2012 NBA draft, but they got a first round talent in round two.

With the first pick of the second round on Thursday night, the Bobcats selected Jeffrey Taylor from Vanderbilt, and for that, Charlotte has to get an:

A+

My fingers were crossed all throughout the tail end of the first round, and much to my amazement, Taylor slid all the way to the Bobcats with pick 31.

Taylor was a great shooter by the time he left Vanderbilt.

He’s a very good, versatile defender who can guard point guards, shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards.

He has the ability to take his man off the dribble and finish strong at the rim.

Taylor’s weaknesses are almost as few as Kidd-Gilchrist’s: He has a somewhat indecisive approach to the game at times, and people think he’s not all that athletic.

Either way, I think the Bobcats got one of the steals of the draft with him.

Charlotte drafted two great defenders last night, but they also drafted two great people. Kidd-Gilchrist is a great young man who will accept the challenge of rebuilding the Bobcats with open arms. Taylor is smart and driven, and I haven’t heard a single person question his character.

Again, in a draft Charlotte absolutely had to nail, the Bobcats got both of their picks right.

They might be in the lottery again next year, but it won’t be because of who they drafted Thursday night.

The Charlotte Bobcats also might be in the playoffs in three-to-four years (Cho’s OKC plan in full effect), and that will be in large part due to who they took in the 2012 NBA draft.

June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Harrison Barnes (left) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (right) laugh as they stand on stage before the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is one of the newest members of the Charlotte Bobcats. He is a beast, I tell ya! I expect for MKG to be all over the court. I have said this numerous times before. MKG is another Shawn Marion. In fact, I’m giving MKG a nickname: The Matrix Reloaded. He is going to play the small forward position, but he going to guard point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, and power forwards. MKG is an excellent rebounder, as well. When Kentucky played North Carolina on December 3^rd, 2011, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was the best player on the court that day. He amassed 17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, one steal, and one block.  These are some of the Michael’s gifts. In addition, he has a motor like the Energizer Bunny, because he keeps going and going and going and going.

The downside to drafting Kidd-Gilchrist is that he is an inconsistent shooter. MKG cannot create his own shot. This may hinder him, since there is a lot of one-on-one play in the NBA. Moreover, he plays at one speed the entire time. His drive can be a plus as well as a minus, because overplaying is just as bad as underplaying. In my opinion, I would not worry about MKG overplaying because Charlotte needs someone of his caliber. If Anthony Davis was not on Kentucky’s roster last season, then Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would have won more awards including Player of the Year. MKG was the second best player on the Wildcats during the 2011-2012 season.

Here’s a re-cap on the pros and cons with MKG:

Pros                                                               Cons

Versatility                                                     Shooting

Excellent defender                                     Inability to play under control (???)

Excellent rebounder

Work ethic

Leader’s mentality

As good as MKG is, I would not consider the cons of drafting him to be weaknesses. MJ and MD (Mike Dunlap; got carried away with the initials) will polish MKG’s game. MKG will turn out to become a fantastic player in the NBA. I look forward to seeing him play for the Charlotte Bobcats, and being known for a lockdown defender. MKG in the QC!

June 28, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky), right, is introduced as the number two overall pick to the Charlotte Bobcats by NBA commissioner David Stern during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

The Charlotte Bobcats needed to have the best draft in franchise history Thursday night, and I think they did.

In the 2012 NBA draft, the Bobcats selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the second overall pick, and Jeffrey Taylor with the 31st pick.

With those two guys Charlotte signaled to the league they’re serious about changing the culture in the Queen City.

Both guys are high character individuals, and they were two of the best defenders in the draft.

Kidd-Gilchrist was a surprising pick, because everyone thought Charlotte was going to move down in the draft.

But, since they held on to #2, the Bobcats made the right move. Gilchrist isn’t the best shooter in the world, but there isn’t another glaring weakness in his game.

He’s an athletic specimen, he can finish in transition, he can creat his own shot and he’s a flat out pest on defense.

Jeffrey Taylor slid into the second round, and I know the Bobcats are nothing but elated to have him on their roster.

The guy was a stud at Vanderbilt; He has a good outside shot, he can create space and get off a mid-range jumper against almost anyone, and he can guard FOUR positions defensively. He can play power forward or small forward, and I see at least one All Star game in this guy’s future.

Plenty of people wanted Charlotte to go offense in this draft, but if you look at the teams who went far in the playoffs this year, almost all of them were good defensive teams.

The Bobcats now have two players to build their defense around (not to mention Bismack Biyombo sitting there at power forward) and they can address their offensive needs through free agency, trades and future drafts.

For a guy who’s taken as much heat as Michael Jordan has as an owner, there’s nothing negative anyone can really say about him tonight besides “At the very least, he didn’t make the wrong moves.”

Rich Cho for Governor, anyone?

Apr 2, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) shoots over Kansas Jayhawks center Jeff Withey (5) during the finals of the 2012 NCAA men

With the second pick in the 2012 NBA draft, the Charlotte Bobcats selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

It was a little bit of a shocker since all the talk leading up to the draft had the Bobcats trading that pick.

Kidd-Gilchrist is the second best defensive player in the draft, a monster athletically and he’s been described as a “coach’s dream”.

He needs to work on his jump shot, but other than that, the kid doesn’t really have too many weaknesses.

Apr 26, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA Charlotte Bobcats dance team member holds up a jersey during a timeout during the second half against the New York Knicks. The New York Knicks defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 104-84 at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE

We’re minutes away from the 2012 NBA draft, and the Charlotte Bobcats are the team everyone’s watching right now.

I’ll keep this short and simple.

According to multiple reports, the Cavs have offered the Bobcats picks 4, 24 and 33 in return for picks 2 and 31.

The Rockets are also discussing a move with Charlotte. They have three picks in the first round, and they’re looking to move up and pick up an extra asset to throw at Orlando for Dwight Howard.

The Thunder want Bradley Beal, and they know they’ll have to move into the top three to get them. Apparently Harden is available, but the Bobcats will only take that deal if Harden agrees to a contract extension (he has just one year left on his deal).

Also, and this has nothing to do with the Bobcats or any trade rumors… If New Orleans is on the clock for longer than two minutes to start this draft off, I might just break something(s).