Bobcats general manger Rich Cho on pain and patience of rebuilding

[C-A-T-S]

Rod Higgins and Rich Cho, the Charlotte Bobcats’ top two player-personnel executives, say the 4-28 record at All-Star break won’t change their plan: There won’t be some panic move that eats up major salary-cap space or bargains away assets for a quick-fix.

If you’re wondering why they wouldn’t panic, Cho offers a good answer: Because he’s been there, in a remarkably similar circumstance, when he was No. 2 in the front office of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Let him describe, harkening back to the summer of 2007:

“OKC has the best record in the league right now, but people forget how hard it was when we started out that first year of the rebuild. There are a lot of parallels’’ between that and the Bobcats now, Cho described Wednesday.

“We traded Ray Allen (to Boston) and drafted Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. People forget we won only 20 games that year. We had a 14-game losing streak, an 11-game losing streak and an eight-game losing streak. We started out the season 9-36.

“So we go back into the lottery and draft (Russell) Westbrook. And we start out 3-29. We have another 14-game losing streak and an eight-game losing streak and a seven-game losing streak. Wind up the season 23-59.

“So we go back into the lottery and draft James Harden. There’s a whole process and it’s not easy going through this process.’’

Cho’s point: Without a plan and the patience and conviction to stick to it, the Bobcats won’t get markedly better. That plan is about drafting wisely, managing the salary cap and looking for

trades that add draft picks or young prospects.

“Rod and I are definitely on the same page as far as where we are with the team,’’ Cho said. “We’re fortunate to have an owner who is very supportive and on the same page. It’s not easy going through it, but that’s part of the process.’’

What about the criticism in the short run?

“If you don’t have a thick skin, you shouldn’t be in the business,’’ Cho replied.

Much more from Higgins and Cho in Sunday’s Observer about the season so far, coach Paul Silas’s job security, Tyrus Thomas’s struggles and how realistic is it that a big-name free agent would choose to sign with the Bobcats?

http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_nba/2012/02/bobcats-general-manger-rich-cho-on-pain-and-patience-of-rebuilding.html

[pdandy1994]

Thats good to hear. I didn't even remember how bad his OkCity teams were even when they had Westbrook/Durant

My big concern is, what if it takes multiple drafts as in more than what OkCity did? What if the players don't get emotionally attached the way it seems Durant/Westbrook are to OkC?

[theyhateme45]

This is what I like to hear.... we may not get as lucky as OKC with Durant and westbrook, but less try building the right way as they have mentioned.

[SeaMonster]

Do the Bobcats still owe a #1 pick to the Bulls?

[HeatCheck]

Do the Bobcats still owe a #1 pick to the Bulls?

Yep I believe so.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

Do the Bobcats still owe a #1 pick to the Bulls?

it is protected. it won't be in the next draft or probably the one after that. Maybe 2014 or 2015.

[SOJA]

it's not unprotected for awhile

[carpanfan96]

top 14 protected in 2012, top 12 protected in 2013, top 10 protected in 2014, top 8 protected in 2015, unprotected in 2016)

[C-A-T-S]

Hopefully the pick will be a late 1st when the Bulls finally get it.

[YoungPanthers89]

Anthony. Davis.

[C-A-T-S]

Anthony. Davis.

Our luck we won't get him but he'd be a franchise changer according to Michael Wilbon.

I expect the bottom feeders, once they really start examining Kentucky’s Anthony Davis, to really think about what winning this year’s lottery will do for a team. The Kentucky center is the most polished true big man, even with only one season under his belt, to come out of college since Tim Duncan. Maybe since David Robinson. Shaq, powerful as he was coming out of LSU, wasn’t as polished offensively as Davis is. This kid isn’t just a game-changer, he’s a franchise-changer.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/anthony-davis-a-franchise-changer

[HeatCheck]

Yeah and I bet Wilbon saw him in HS considering Davis is from Chicago

[MrBubba]

Bottom line from Cho, Bobcats will keeping sucking for at least three more years.

[God]

just sell the franchise, nobody gives a poo about the "bobcats". Nobody cared during our playoff year and nobody will care 3 years from now. OKC is the luckiest team ever getting Durant, Westbrook, and Harden...Bobcats aren't gonna win the lottery and they wont luck into 2 or 3 stars.