Will Bobcats opponents soon "fear the beard"? Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

A new name has surfaced in trade rumors involving the Charlotte Bobcats and their second overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

Jeff Goodman reported that “a source” says James Harden “could be in play” because of OKC’s salary issues. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are locked up long term with big money, and Harden, as well as Serge Ibaka, will command hefty salaries once their deals are up after the 2012/13 season.

The only way this deal would make sense is if Harden agrees to a contract extension. Giving up the second overall pick for a player who comes to your team for one season would be pointless.

If Rick Cho and company can actually make this deal happen, the Bobcats’ rebuilding process would be significantly accelerated. Harden is already a borderline All Star, and definitely better than any player Charlotte could take with the second pick.

As @noamschiller put it on twitter: “If the Bobcats can get James Harden out of this draft, Rich Cho should get a statue that floats above the entire state of North Carolina.”

Apr 26, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA Charlotte Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker (1) goes up for a shot during the second half against the New York Knicks at Time Warner Cable Arena. The New York Knicks defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 104-84. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE

Once Charlotte lost out on drafting Anthony Davis with the top pick in the 2012 NBA draft, it was inevitable that Rich Cho and company would shop the second pick around.

The rumor with the most steam right now is #2 for Rudy Gay. It’d be pretty ironic if Jordan makes that trade, since he had the opportunity to draft him a couple years ago. Instead of Gay, he picked Adam Morrison.

I don’t think Charlotte should make that trade straight up, but I do think there are a few other scenarios that could happen.

First, Cleveland is looking to move up in the draft and if they could they’d love to get Charlotte’s #2 pick. The teams would swap picks (#2 for #4), but after that things would get tricky. Cleveland doesn’t have many players on its roster worth trading for and they probably won’t give up another first round pick. The Bobcats should offer Corey Maggette and his expiring contract to try and pry that 2013 first rounder away from the Cavs, though.

If Charlotte can get Cleveland’s first rounder this and next year for the second overall pick and Corey Magette, they should pull the trigger.

 Another possible trade partner is the Portland Trail Blazers, who have the sixth and 11th picks of the 2012 NBA draft. Word on the street is Portland really likes Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and he’s probably going to be gone by pick six.

A trade could be pulled off by a simple swap of the second pick for the sixth and the 11th, but Charlotte would probably throw in Corey Magette and his expiring contract as well.

If Portland doesn’t want to surrender both picks, something like the second pick for the sixth and Wesley Matthews might work, although the Trail Blazers are really high on him.

Another team with multiple draft picks is the Houston Rockets. They’ve got numbers 14 and 16, and the Bobcats might be able to entice them into a trade. Houston could really use a guy like Thomas Robinson or Andre Drummond, and Charlotte could really use two picks in this draft.

The Bobcats would also probably want a player back, since the picks they’d receive are in the middle of the draft. Goran Dragic might be too much too ask, but he would pretty much seal the deal.

There aren’t many other possible trades that make a lot of sense for Charlotte and their potential partner. The Knicks are looking to get into the first round, but it would take something crazy for them to make a deal with the ‘Cats. Utah and Brooklyn also don’t have first rounders, but a trade with either of those teams seems impossible.

Trade talk will only increase as we march closer to draft day, and in the end the Bobcats might just keep the number two pick. But it just wouldn’t  make sense not to shop the thing around.

May 13, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay (22) during the second half of game seven in the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers at FedEx Forum. Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 82-72. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE

It was a groggy, zombie-like morning for me today, but I did manage to find my humanity long enough to read a few stories suggesting and even reporting that Charlotte is actively shopping the second pick in the 2012 NBA draft. So will the Charllote Bobcats trade it?

Here are the stories:

This one says Charlotte is thinking about trading the pick for Rudy Gay.

This one  expands on the rumors and gets into some reporting.

Other than that there are a few stories that speculate on other possible trade partners, but there’s nothing else in the way of hard news on this story.

I’m not in love with trading the secodn pick for Gay for a few reasons.

One is his contract. 16 million next year, then 19 the next. Why pay that kind of money for a guy who probably won’t make your team substantially better over those two years?

Second is the fact that Charlotte probably wouldn’t get much else back besides Gay for the second pick. Memphis has the 25th pick, and by then, the talent pool will have most likely drained.

If the Bobcats can find a suitable partner though, trading the secodn pick wouldn’t be a bad idea.