Empty the Bench

Given the debacle that continues to unfold with the struggling Charlotte Bobcats franchise, there’s no way of knowing if Michael Jordan will ever be offered another front-office position should the day come that he and his current organization part ways. Four words of caution, however, should another franchise ever consult Jordan about making a high lottery pick:

Kwame Brown. Adam Morrison.

“Coffee with No Cream” Brown was, of course, the first-overall pick in the 2001 draft by the Washington Wizards and the first selection by the front-office version of Jordan. Needless to say that one worked out incredibly well for all parties involved.

Jordan’s second “first pick,” this time as Manager of Basketball Operations for the Bobcats, is shaping up to be another winner: Adam Morrison, who was taken third overall back in ‘06 ahead of guys like Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, and Randy Foye. That class hasn’t yet shaped up to be an incredibly strong one just yet, but even then many wondered whether the gangly, mustachioed, 70s porn-star wannabe that was Morrison would be able to replicate the prolific offensive success he enjoyed during his college days in Gonzaga after graduating to the NBA.

The early results indicate that no, he most certainly cannot.

The 6-8 swingman played in 78 regular-season games during his rookie season, averaging almost 30 minutes a night and wrapping up the season with pers of 11.8 points, 3 boards, 2.1 assists, 37% FG, and 33% from behind the arc. As far as defensive stats and impact goes, well, I’d rather not rub that aspect of his game in. Those aren’t the kind of stats one expects from a guy with such lofty draft status, but hey, chalk it up to being a rookie.

Unfortunately for Morrison and the Bobcats, a torn ACL in the preseason brought his sophomore campaign to an early close, and the rawwrr in Charlotte turned more into a kitty-cat meow than it already was.

Now 24 years old, slightly more clean-shaven, and fresh off a long-overdue haircut, Morrison is slowly working his way back into the offensively challenged Bobcats rotation; his minutes and effectiveness have wildly fluctuated on this Larry Brown-led team. (Go figure.)

Somewhat to my surprise, Morrison has seen action in all 13 of his team’s games thus far (I’m not trying to jinx you, Adam… really), averaging 7.6 points, 2.1 boards, 1.4 assists, and 41% FG–underwhelming numbers, sure, but actually an improvement on his shooting percentages from his rookie season. Of course, that probably has something to do with less shot attempts. He did enjoy a fairly decent three-game stretch about 2 weeks or so ago in which he totaled 7 triples in tallying 45 points on 52% shooting. And in the Bobcats’ 93-84 win on Monday against the 76ers, he logged almost 23 minutes and finished with 10 points (on 50% FG), 2 triples, 5 boards, 2 assists, and a steal. It’s not much, but the ‘Cats will take what they can get for now.

Including this season, Morrison will make over $16 million during the final 3 years of his rookie contract: will he ever develop into the kind of player Jordan and the Bobcats envisioned when they drafted him? It’s hard to imagine him as anything more than a role player off the bench or a spot-starter, but there is value in guys who can step onto the floor and provide some instant offense. Morrison will never be much of a defensive player, but he probably won’t be asked to do much more on that end of the floor besides to try and not embarass himself.

No–if this kid is to make any sort of mark at this level, it’ll be in the scoring column; for that to happen, he’s going to have to do something about that field-goal percentage. We’re seeing it right now in the Chicago Bulls’ Luol Deng: a dire need to counter-adjust to the adjustments the rest of the league has made to his game. Time will tell if he’s capable of doing it.

Related Reading:
- ETB’s Scribes of the NBA Interview Series - Brett Hainline of Queen City Hoops
- Toothless: Why the Charlotte Bobcats Aren’t Making Progress and What Needs to be Done