Charlotte sports radio host Marc James recently tweeted something interesting:

NBA Source just told me the Bobcats will probably trade the 2nd pick. This is gonna be a an Exhilirating 48 hours for Charlotte. #Bobcats

— MARC JAMES (@marcjames) June 27, 2012

He didn’t elaborate, but I have to assume that means “the Bobcats will probably trade the 2nd pick” to Cleveland for the fourth and 24th pick.

If that pick happens, the Cavs will almost certainly draft Bradley Beal and Washington is said to have their eye on either Beal or Michael Kidd Gilchrist.

That would leave either Thomas Robinson or Harrison Barnes to the Bobcats at number four, and Robinson would be an absolute steal at that spot after what he did during his pre-draft workouts.

Still, I think Charlotte wants to draft Barnes, and trading down makes that move less of a risk in the eyes of a ton of sports journalists.

With the 24th pick Charlotte could either draft a guy like Royce White or Jeff Taylor, or trade the pick for future picks.

Apr 10, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Charlotte Bobcats center Bismack Biyombo (0) blocks a shot attempt by Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Omri Casspi (36) in the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

There’s a bunch of talk heating up around the web suggesting Charlotte will trade the second pick of the 2012 NBA draft to Cleveland. Most people think the deal would be a pick swap that doesn’t involve players.

I’m starting to believe these rumors more and more, and the teams might make things official before the draft next Thursday.

Thomas Robinson and Andre Drummond are in Charlotte today, and the Bobcats have already worked out Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Harrison Barnes. They should know who they want to draft by the end of this weekend.

I believe the Bobcats want Barnes. I also believe they don’t want to draft him at number two. Experts agree that while the former Tar Heel has a great jump shot and loads of athleticism, he is too risky a pick to take at #2.

So, a trade with Cleveland only makes sense; They’ve fallen in love with Beal, and if Charlotte stays at two, the former Gator won’t be available at four to the Cavs.

For this deal to happen, though, Cleveland is going to have to give up the at least the #4 and #24 pick this year. If the Cavs make that offer, the Bobcats have to pounce.

They could take their man, Barnes, at four, pick up an NBA-ready guy like Royce White or Jeff Taylor at #24, or trade that pick for future picks.

We’ll know what Charlotte wants to do soon enough, but right now it looks like they want to move down and get more picks in the 2012 NBA draft.

Apr 2, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Thomas Robinson (0) shoots between Kentucky Wildcats forward Kyle Wiltjer (33) and forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second half in the finals of the 2012 NCAA men

Multiple websites say the Charlotte Bobcats were not impressed with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist after his workout the other day.

This opens the door for a new look into what the Bobcats might do in the 2012 NBA draft.

Common interwebs knowledge says the ‘Cats will draft either Kansas star Thomas Robinson, or North Carolina stand-out Harrison Barnes with the second pick of the draft. But, Florida guard Bradley Beal shot the lights out in his workout with the Bobcats, and his name is being mentioned frequently when it comes to the number two pick.

Then there are the trade rumors.

The number two pick for Rudy Gay. #2 for James Harden. A pick swap with Cleveland, Portland or Houston. Milwaukee has even been in talks with Charlotte for that pick.

If Kidd-Gilchrist really didn’t impress Bobcats management, then I think Charlotte really needs to do everything it can to trade their pick. Rudy Gay might be a risk, but on this roster he’d score 25 points a game easily and bring at least a little bit of credibility and name recognition to the Queen City. James Harden would be the ultimate prize, but swapping the #2 for Portland’s 6 and 11 or Houston’s 14 and 16 and a player wouldn’t be bad options either.

An intriguing trade possibility is Charlotte’s #2 to Cleveland for the fourth and 24th picks in the 2012 NBA draft. At four the Bobcats could still nab Beal, Kidd-Gilchrist or Harrison Barnes. Then with the 24th they could grab a guy like Royce White or Jeff Taylor, or trade that pick for a future pick.

The terryfing thing with this situation is not the crazy number of possibilities presented to Charlotte right now, but what the outcome of those possibilities will be.

If they stay at two, the Bobcats could  waste that pick on a guy who ends up like all their previous top five picks; Out of the league entirely or out of the collective minds of NBA fans.

If they trade the pick, Robinson, MKG, Beal or Barnes could turn into superstars.

Even with all the leaked trade talk and possible draft choice info, no one really knows what Charlotte is going to do.

What most people do know, though, is that if Charlotte screws up in this draft, it’s going to take a long, long time for them to get back to playing decent basketball.